Community-Based Multi-Site Randomized Controlled Trial of Behavioral Activation for Patients with Depressive Disorders.

Behavioral activation (BA) is a beneficial and relatively cost-effective treatment option for depression. This study utilized a pragmatic randomized controlled research design to investigate whether BA, as compared with treatment as usual (TAU), led to superior treatment effects, when delivered in community mental health settings by retrained community mental health professionals. Patients with depressive disorders (n = 64) were randomly assigned to a 10-session BA (n = 31) or TAU (n = 33) group. The depressive symptoms and behavioral engagement were assessed at the baseline, post-treatment, and a six-month follow-up. Results showed that, as compared to the TAU group, the BA group had: (1) a reduction in depression severity, as evidenced by large effect sizes and greater response rates, and (2) an increase in behavioral engagement. However, the post-treatment gains were not maintained at the six-month follow-up. The implications and limitations of the study are also discussed (KCT0004098, June 27, 2019, retrospectively registered).

Investigating how individual differences influence responses to the COVID-19 crisis: The role of maladaptive and five-factor personality traits.

INTRODUCTION: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic impacted both the physical and psychological aspects of people's lives. Personality traits are one of the factors that explain the diverse responses to stressful situations. This study aimed to investigate whether five-factor and maladaptive personality traits are associated with depressive and anxiety symptoms, suicide risk, self-reported COVID-19 symptoms, and preventive behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic, comprehensively. METHODS: We conducted an online survey among a representative sample of 1000 Koreans between May 8 to 13, 2020. Participants' five-factor and maladaptive personality traits were measured using the multidimensional personality inventory, the Bright and Dark Personality Inventory. COVID-19 symptoms, depressive and anxiety symptoms, suicide risk, and preventive behaviors were also measured. RESULTS: The results revealed that maladaptive personality traits (e.g., negative affectivity, detachment) had positive correlations with depressive and anxiety symptoms, suicide risk, and COVID-19 symptoms, and the five-factor personality traits (e.g., agreeableness, conscientiousness) had positive correlations with preventive behaviors. CONCLUSION: Our findings extend the current understanding of the relationship between five-factor and maladaptive personality traits and responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. Longitudinal follow-up should further investigate the influence of personality traits on an individual's response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The effects of brief behavioral activation (BA) on children with physical disabilities: A randomized controlled trial.

The majority of children with physical disabilities experience significant restrictions in their daily lives. Notably, they are at a risk for lower levels of activity and involvement in critical life domains. To address this issue, this study investigated whether behavioral activation (BA), in tandem with the installment of power-assisted devices (PAD), would have beneficial effects on activity levels, overall involvement in life domains, mobility, and depressive symptoms among children with physical disabilities. From among 123 children with physical disabilities aged 6-13 who used a nonpowered wheelchair device, 40 who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria were randomized into either the PAD-only group or the BA + PAD group. The participants were assessed at 3 time periods (pretreatment, 4 weeks, and 8 weeks), using standardized self-report measures and digital odometers. Both groups showed an increase in the distance traveled. Although BA + PAD had no additional benefits over PAD-only in improving the distance traveled and depressive symptoms, the BA + PAD group showed significantly higher levels of activity and overall involvement in life domains than the PAD-only group did. The findings provide preliminary support for the provision of BA for children with physical disabilities. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).