Behavioral Techniques For Depression

Question 1

Listing examples of depressive behaviours

Answer 1

Typical examples: isolation, passivity, complaining, rumination, avoidance.

Question 2

Examining triggers for depressed mood or behaviour

Answer 2

Help the patient to determine what stimuli precede depressive responses.

Question 3

Examining consequences of depressive behavior

Answer 3

Typical example: Avoidance leads to reduction of anxiety.

Question 4

Identifying goals

Answer 4

Help the patient to develop short-term and long-term behavior goals that he or she wishes to accomplish.

Question 5

Reward planning

Answer 5

Have the patient list positive behaviours enjoyed in the past anticipated in the future.

Question 6

Activity planning

Answer 6

Have the patient schedule rewarding activities, rating each activity for pleasure and mastery, and then self-monitor actual activities.

Question 7

Graded task assignment

Answer 7

Encourage the patient to self-assign increasingly demanding and challenging positive behaviours.

Question 8

Self-reward

Answer 8

Help the patient to increase use of positive self-statements and identify tangible reinforces that may be associated with positive behavior.

Question 9

Decreasing rumination and excessive self-focus

Answer 9

Encourage the patient to develop distracting and active behaviours to replace passivity and rumination; to set aside rumination time; and to delay rumination.

Question 10

Social skills training

Answer 10

Help the patient to increase positive and rewarding behaviors toward others, such as complimenting and reinforcing other people; to become more reliable with others; to improve personal hygiene, appearance, approach, etc.; and to decrease complaining and negative social behavior.

Question 11

Assertiveness training

Answer 11

Help the patient to increase responsible positive assertion (reinforcing others, generating possible solutions, developing plans, and carrying out solutions.