A brief behavioral activation treatment for depression

A time-limited behavioral treatment of depression is described, based upon the matching law, targeting both environmental factors maintaining depressive behaviors and factors limiting the occurrence of more healthy behaviors. This treatment is designed to reduce depression by way of a gradual increase in desired, healthy activity. Three case studies using this intervention are provided, with marked improvement evidenced in each case. Although considerably more work is necessary to establish the clinical utility of this treatment, it appears to be a parsimonious and useful approach that may help to shed light on the active ingredients of the successful treatment of depression.