Behavioral activation based on the Health Action Process Approach – Efficacy of a theory-based online intervention in depression
Final Report Abstract
Behavioral activation (BA) is effective in treating depressive disorders. For this project, a review was conducted on the efficacy of internet-based behavioral activation. The results showed that internet-based behavioral activation is more effective than inactive control groups. In a second step, a BA intervention (InterAKTIV) was evaluated. InterAKTIV guides participants in exploring their personal values and goals, increasing their motivation, and becoming more active in their daily lives to improve their mood. The intervention is based on a theoretical model for behavior change from health psychology: the Health Action Process Approach. This study examines the efficacy of InterAKTIV in people with depressive disorders. 128 participants were randomly assigned to either the intervention group or the control group (randomization). Half of the study participants were given direct access to InterAKTIV (intervention group), while the other half received access to the intervention after the follow-up assessments (control group). Assessment of depression and other psychological measures was conducted at baseline, eight weeks, and six months after randomization using online questionnaires and telephone interviews. Data analyses followed the intention-to-treat principle, meaning that the data from all 128 individuals were considered in the analyses. The results showed that individuals in the intervention group demonstrated a better improvement of depressive symptoms in self- and external reports compared to individuals in the control group. Additionally, the intervention group showed greater improvements in activity, intention formation (motivation), and intention implementation (volition). These findings suggest that internet-based BA, based on the Health Action Process Approach, is effective in reducing depressive symptoms. Moreover, it appears that motivational and volitional variables can be specifically altered, which may be relevant to changing activity behavior and thereby improving depressive symptoms. Future studies should further investigate the role of motivation and volition in behavioral activation for individuals with depression. The Health Action Process Approach provides a meaningful theoretical framework for this purpose. After further evidence of its efficacy, the guided online intervention could potentially be offered as a therapeutic option for people with depressive disorders (e.g., to bridge waiting times for psychotherapy).
Publications
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Die Wirksamkeit einer verhaltensaktivierenden Online-Intervention basierend auf dem Health Action Process Approach: Studienprotokoll einer randomisiert-kontrollierten Studie. 15. Kongress der Fachgruppe Gesundheitspsychologie; September 29, 2021; Erlangen.
Mueller-Weinitschke C.; Zeiss T.; Bengel J. & Krämer L. V.
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Die Wirksamkeit einer verhaltensaktivierenden Online- Intervention auf Alltagsaktivität und körperliche Aktivität von Personen mit depressiven Erkrankungen: Ergebnisse einer randomisiertkontrollierten Studie. 1. Deutscher Psychotherapie Kongress; June 10, 2022; Berlin.
Mueller-Weinitschke C.; Bengel J.; Baumeister H. & Ebert DD, Krämer L. V.
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Effectiveness of a web-based behavioural activation intervention for individuals with depression based on the Health Action Process Approach: protocol for a randomised controlled trial with a 6-month follow-up. BMJ Open, 12(1), e054775.
Krämer, Lena Violetta; Mueller-Weinitschke, Claudia; Zeiss, Tina; Baumeister, Harald; Ebert, David Daniel & Bengel, Jürgen
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The effects of a web-based behavioural activation intervention on motivational and volitional outcomes in individuals with depression. 52th European Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Therapies - EABCT 2022; September 10, 2022; Barcelona.
Mueller-Weinitschke C.; Bengel J. & Krämer L. V.
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Effects of a Web-Based Behavioral Activation Intervention on Depressive Symptoms, Activation, Motivation, and Volition: Results of a Randomized Controlled Trial. Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, 92(6), 367-378.
Mueller-Weinitschke, Claudia; Bengel, Jürgen; Baumeister, Harald & Krämer, Lena Violetta
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Internet-Based Behavioral Activation for Depression: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 25, e41643.
Alber, Carolin Sophie; Krämer, Lena Violetta; Rosar, Sophia Marie & Mueller-Weinitschke, Claudia
