Behavioral Activation Therapy on Reward Seeking Behaviors in Depressed People: An Experimental study

Abstract

Introduction: Behavioral activation therapy (BAT) is designed to help individuals’ approach and access sources of positive reinforcement in their life, which can serve a natural antidepressant function and efforts to help depressed people reengage in their life through focused activation strategies. Methods: In this study, 60 individuals were selected and randomly assigned to intervention and control groups. The intervention group received behavioral activation treatment, including eight treatment sessions and 5 weeks later, a follow-up study was conducted. The data were collected, using a Beck Depression Inventory-II and behavioral activation system (BIS)/ behavioral inhibition system (BAS) Carver and White questionnaires, before the intervention and after the intervention and five weeks after the intervention. SPSS 23 and analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was used for data analysis. Results: Results showed a significant increase in the two components of the BAS including reward seeking and response to reward in the intervention group, which indicates an increase in positive affect and appetitive motivation for reward seeking and decreases the risk of depression. Also, the results showed a significant decrease in the BIS and depression in the intervention group, which indicates a decline in experiencing negative emotions. Conclusion: The implementation of BAT will cause depressed people to try to maximize future rewards and it’s effective in improving the reward seeking and reward response in depressed people because this treatment will increase the positive reinforcement and lead to learning cues that predict possible rewards in environments.

The Association Between Prenatal Maternal Stress and Adolescent Affective Outcomes is Mediated by Childhood Maltreatment and Adolescent Behavioral Inhibition System Sensitivity

“…Although to our knowledge, no interventions explicitly target BIS sensitivity, certain interventions target and have been observed to alter reinforcement sensitivity (e.g., Cognitive Remediation Therapy targets punishment sensitivity and Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation targets reward sensitivity) [141,142]. Other interventions do not target reinforcement sensitivity but have been shown to reduce BIS sensitivity (e.g., Behavioral Activation Therapy and certain mindfulness types) [143,144]. Pharmacological treatments, e.g., anxiolytic drugs also reduce BIS sensitivity [36].…”

Effectiveness of behavioral activation therapy and acceptance and commitment therapy on depression and rumination as a tool for health promotion on mothers with cerebral palsy children

“…In another study, Karimpour et al . [ 34 ] reported that BAT significantly reduced depression and rumination in the post-test and two-month follow-up stages. Also, Soleimani et al .…”

Relationship between behavioral inhibition/activation system and Internet addiction among Chinese college students: The mediating effects of intolerance of uncertainty and self-control and gender differences

“…Second, BAS is closely related to reward seeking, and individuals with high-BAS sensitivity have a higher preference for novelty processing and reward dependence ( 94 ). They are highly motivated by both external and internal rewards and are able to devote themselves to an activity in which they feel a sense of pleasure and control ( 95 ). Thus, high-BAS individuals may have a higher desire to explore perceived goals, and uncertain situations may be perceived as novel and rewarding stimuli.…”