A preliminary examination of the role of avoidance in behavioral activation treatment among Latinx individuals.

Abstract

The present study examined the role of avoidance in behavioral activation treatment compared to a supportive counseling condition targeting depressive symptoms in a sample comprised of Latinx individuals. Depressed Latinx individuals with Spanish-speaking preference (LSSP; N = 46) were randomized to receive 10 weekly sessions of brief behavioral activation treatment for depression (BATD) or supportive counseling. Participants completed weekly self-report measures of depressive symptoms and avoidance. Avoidance levels decreased over the course of both treatments. However, decreases in depressive symptoms were associated with decreases in avoidance over time only for individuals who were randomized to BATD. Greater change in avoidance levels was related to posttreatment depression score, only for those who received BATD. Finally, greater avoidance prior to commencing treatment predicted lower depressive symptom change over the course of both treatments. This study provides preliminary evidence that avoidance may be a specific proposed mechanism of depression change in BATD among LSSP with depression. Pretreatment avoidance appears to be a useful construct to identify the trajectories of depressive symptoms over the course of psychotherapy among LSSP.