Behavioural Activation and Goal Setting Study (BAGS)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Behavioural activation, goal setting and achievement in the treatment of mild to moderate depressive symptoms.
IRAS ID
116996
Contact name
Victoria Hull
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Northumberland, Tyne & Wear, NHS Foundation Trust
Research summary
Low intensity treatments for depression are a key component of the national Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) programme. One core low intensity intervention is behavioural activation, a NICE recommended treatment for mild to moderate depression with reported treatment response ranging from Cohen's d of 0.6 to 1.15 (Cuijpers et al, 2007). Behavioural activation (re)introduces a balanced range of activity (pleasurable, necessary, and routine) into a person’s life in order to provide a) opportunities to develop positive experiences, b) challenge existing beliefs about the self, the world, and the future and c) enhance skills and capacities to manage challenging conditions. Clinically we know that some people respond better to this treatment than others, although it is not clear from the mental health literature why. Drawing from the literature on long term condition management there may be a relationship between goal achievement and routine clinical outcomes including measures of depressive symptoms and quality of life. This study aims to monitor whether goal selection and goal achievement is related to clinical outcomes in treatment as usual of mild to moderate depression in primary care settings.
REC name
North East - Newcastle & North Tyneside 2 Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
13/NE/0232
Date of REC Opinion
15 Aug 2013
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion