Behavioral Activation for Depression: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Brief Behavioral Activation Treatment with and without motor enhancement. All patients will receive 10 online video sessions. BA focuses on increasing overt behaviors to bring patients into contact with reinforcing environmental contingencies and corresponding improvements in thoughts, mood, and quality of life (Hopko, Lejuez, et al., 2003). BA follows the basic behavioral principles of extinction, shaping, fading, and in vivo exposure (Hopko \& Lejuez, 2007; Lejuez et al., 2001, 2011). In the mBA condition only a) patients will be introduced to the idea that the motor system can be used in the service of action initiation and will receive an audio recording with motor manipulations to assist in action initiation and b) the therapist will conduct imaginary behavioral activation and - in session - complete questionnaires identical to those in the experiment before and after the bodily instructions presented in the treatment.