Behavioral activation for depressed patients in Iran: Effectiveness, predictors and mediators in the context of a randomized trial

Behavioral activation is a relatively new psychological treatment that could be a viable alternative and effective treatment for people with major depressive disorder. The findings of this thesis show that those participants who preferred psychological treatment for treatment of depression, might be benefitting more from behavioral activation than antidepressant medication. The drop out of the treatment was higher for the group that preferred psychological treatment, but at the same time received antidepressant medication. To implement behavioral activation in clinical settings is easier than cognitive behavioral therapy. It can be disseminated by mental health professionals with short-term training. Behavioral activation treatment might be a very cost-effective intervention for depression.