Cited by 213Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive ProcessesPsychotherapy Techniques and ApplicationsDigital Mental Health Interventions

Looking beyond depression: a meta-analysis of the effect of behavioral activation on depression, anxiety, and activation

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Stein, Aliza T., Carl, Emily, Cuijpers, Pim, Karyotaki, Eirini, Smits, Jasper A. J.·2021·Psychological Medicine

Abstract

Background: Depression is a prevalent and impairing condition. Behavioral activation (BA) is a parsimonious, cost-effective, and easily disseminated psychological intervention for depression. The current meta-analysis expands on the existing literature supporting the efficacy of BA for depression by examining the effects of BA on additional relevant outcomes for patients with depression, namely the reduction in anxiety symptoms and increase in activation. Methods: Randomized controlled trials of BA for depression compared to active and inactive control were identified via a systematic review. Effect sizes using Hedges's g were calculated for each outcome compared to both active and inactive control using random effects models. Subgroup analyses were used to examine the inclusion of a discussion of values as a moderator of depression symptom outcome in BA. Results: Twenty-eight studies were included. Meta-analyses of symptom change between groups from baseline-to-post intervention indicated that BA outperformed inactive control conditions for improvements in depression (g = 0.83), anxiety (g = 0.37), and activation (g = 0.64). The difference between BA and active control conditions was not significant for improvements in depression (g = 0.15), anxiety (g = 0.03), and activation (g = 0.04). There was no evidence for a discussion of values augmenting BA efficacy. Study quality was generally low, and there was evidence of publication bias. Conclusions: In addition to improving depression, BA shows efficacy for reducing symptoms of anxiety and increasing activation. BA may not offer better outcomes relative to other active interventions. There is room for improvement in the quality of research in this area.

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  1. Hedges, L. V., & Olkin, I. (1985). Statistical methodsfor meta-analysis. Orlando, FL: Academic Press.

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Authors
Stein, A. T., Carl, E., Cuijpers, P., Karyotaki, E., & Smits, J. A. J.
Affiliations
  • The University of Texas at Austin (US)
  • Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (NL)
  • Harvard University (US)
Corresponding author
Stein, Aliza T.
Venue
Psychological Medicine
Published
2020-03-06
Volume
51
Issue
9
Pages
1491-1504
ISSN
  • 0033-2917 (ISSN-L)
  • 1469-8978
OpenAlex
W3009307366
Cited by
213
References
69
Citations by year
2026: 34 · 2025: 53 · 2024: 42 · 2023: 30 · 2022: 37 · 2021: 12 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 1
FWCI
3.03
Type
journal article
Language
en
Update notices
addendum (2020-03-06)
Open access
Locations
  • Psychological Medicine (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • VU Research Portal (publishedVersion, other-oa)
  • Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychotherapy Techniques and Applications
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Applied Psychology › Digital Mental Health Interventions
Keywords
behavioral activation, depression, anxiety symptoms, activation, psychological intervention, treatment efficacy, publication bias
MeSH terms
Anxiety, Anxiety Disorders, Depression, Humans, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic, Treatment Outcome, Qualitative Research

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