Objective: It is important to consider history of dealing with depression as it evolved from pure behavioral approaches that predate behavioral activation. Current behavioral activation adds an idiographic and functional approaches, which explores clients needs, goals and environmental contingencies that support depressive behaviors and moods. The aim of this study is to evaluate efficacy of Group Behavioral Activation Treatment (GBAT) as a supplemental treatment to pharmacotherapy in inpatients suffering from depressive disorders.
Methods: This is a clinical trial. We included 24 patients with depressive disorders (according to SCID-I), who were admitted to Shiraz Psychiatric Hospital in summer 2010. They were randomly divided into three groups: intervention, control, and placebo. All three groups prescribed their usual pharmacological treatment. Additionally, first group was treated with GBAT. In order to control the efficacy of therapists attention, third group watched video-movie as well. All participants completed Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) and Behavioral Activation for Depression Scale (BADS).
Results: According to the results of the analysis of variance for repeated measures: all 3 groups showed same decrease in post and 2 mounts follow-up in BDI-II, however there was no significant difference among groups. Nevertheless, based on the results of analysis for BDI-II, it is indicated that behavioral activation therapy has been effective in decreasing depression of patients (F=11.27; p=0.001). Results indicated that based on the analysis of BADS, patients depression has significantly decreased (F=105.97; p=0.001).
Conclusions: Our research findings indicate that using the GBAT as a supplemental treatment for depressed inpatients can increase the effectiveness of medication therapy. Small sample size and cautions in the generalization of the present findings to be noted.
Key words: Group Behavioral Activation Treatment (GBAT), pharmacotherapy, depressive disorders, inpatients, supplemental treatment.
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