Integration of the brief behavioral activation treatment for depression (BATD) into a college orientation program: Depression and alcohol outcomes.

Abstract

College freshmen face a variety of academic and social challenges as they adjust to college life that can place them at risk for a number of negative outcomes, including depression and alcohol-related problems. Orientation classes that focus on teaching incoming students how to better cope with college-oriented stress may provide an opportunity to prevent the development of these adjustment problems. This article outlines a program based on behavioral activation that can be integrated into college orientation programs to provide a more comprehensive orientation experience. Data are presented from an initial pilot study in which 71 first-semester freshman at the University of Maryland participated in a 15-week, 2 hr per week orientation class (n = 37 in the behavioral activation-enhanced orientation classes and n = 34 in the control orientation as usual classes). Students’ depression and alcohol use were evaluated at the beginning, middle, and end of the course. Results indicated a Time × Group interaction such that problem drinking (but not consumption) was significantly reduced across assessments in the behavioral activation classes and largely unchanged in the standard classes. No difference was observed in depression scores; however, fairly low depression scores across the 3 time points may have limited the opportunity to observe any meaningful impact of the orientation classes on depression. The authors conclude with a discussion of the implications of their findings for preventing adjustment problems among incoming college students and future directions.

Do Importance of Religious Faith and Healthy Lifestyle Modify the Relationships Between Depressive Symptoms and Four Indicators of Alcohol Consumption? A Survey of Students Across Seven Universities in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland

“…Globally, university students and freshmen face a range of academic and social challenges as they adjust to college life that can place them at risk for a number of negative outcomes, including depression and alcohol-related problems (Reynolds, Macpherson, Tull, Baruch, & Lejuez, 2011). Hence, in Nigeria, the prevalence of alcohol use was 40.6%, and heavy episodic alcohol use was reported by 31.1% (Abayomi, Onifade, Adelufosi, & Akinhanmi, 2013).…”

Novel Approaches to Individual Alcohol Interventions for Heavy Drinking College Students and Young Adults

“…Published (or in press) studies were included if they met all of the following criteria: (a) examined a behavioral or psychological alcohol intervention; (b) sampled college or university students or specifically sampled young adults (ages 18–30 years); (c) used a randomized controlled trial experimental design; and (d) included at least one alcohol consumption outcome variable (e.g., frequency or quantity of alcohol consumption). Accordingly, studies were excluded if the intervention did not focus specifically on alcohol, but rather tested an intervention of another disorder (e.g., depression) and examined alcohol outcomes post-intervention (e.g., [20]).…”

Motivation and Self-Regulation in Addiction

“…Indeed, treatments that incorporate some of these principles have recently provided very encouraging results in reducing drug treatment dropout and increasing the rates of abstinence among drug users. For instance, behavioral activation approaches that aim to activate individuals’ important goals and to increase their value by increasing individuals’ engagement in rewarding activities that support such goals (Jacobson et al, 1996; Lejuez, Hopko, Acierno, Daughters, & Pagoto, 2011; Lejuez, Hopko, & Hopko, 2001; Lewinsohn, 1974) have been successful in increasing substance-use treatment retention (Magidson et al, 2011), decreasing alcohol use among college students (Reynolds, MacPherson, Tull, Baruch, & Lejuez, 2011), and increasing smoking abstinence over 6 months (MacPherson et al, 2010). Furthermore, treatments designed to promote the use of healthier, nonsubstance-related strategies (in other words, alternative means) to fulfill chronic motivations related to substance use (e.g., sensation seeking) may lead to reductions in motivation to drink alcohol or use illicit drugs (Conrod, Castellanos-Ryan, & Mackie, 2011).…”