



Behavioral Activation is an evidence-based, individualized intervention designed for treating a range of depression. CAPER (in collaboration with Derek Hopko at the University of Tennessee) has developed a specific brief form of Behavioral Activation that was originally targeted at mood disorders and named the Brief Behavioral Activation Treatment for Depression (also known as BATD). This approach seeks to improve mood and build resiliency through increasing one’s focus on their core values and the everyday activities that make up those values. Over time BATD has come to be used for a range of clinical conditions beyond depression including substance use, anxiety, and the psychological components of medical conditions such as cancer and diabetes. BATD has been validated extensively and is used widely in academic and clinical settings throughout the world including the UK, Argentina, Australia, Kurdistan (Iraq), Romania, Turkey, and Cypress.


  • Click here to watch a promo for the BATD training video.
  • Click here for an application of BATD in popular culture.



  1. Behavioral Activation Intervention, Reward Processing, and Youth Smoking Cessation
  2. Depression Treatment for Urban Low Income Minority Substance Users


Selected Papers


  1. Lejuez, C. W., Hopko, D. R., Acierno, R., Daughters, S. B., & Pagoto, S. L. (2011). Ten Year Revision of the Brief Behavioral Activation Treatment for Depression (BATD): Revised Treatment Manual (BATD-R). Behavior Modification, 35, 111-161.
    → Click here for the article.
  2. Reynolds, E. K., MacPherson, L., Tull, M. T., & Baruch, D. E., & Lejuez, C. W. (2011). Integration of the brief behavioral activation treatment for depression (BATD) into a college orientation program: Depression and alcohol outcomes. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 58, 555-564. doi: 10.1037/a0024634. PMID: 21787070.
    → Click here for the article.
  3. Collado, A., Castillo, S. D., Maero, F., Lejuez, C. W., & MacPherson, L. (2014).  Pilot of the Brief Behavioral Activation Treatment for Depression in Latinos with Limited English Proficiency: Preliminary Evaluation of Efficacy and Acceptability. Behavior Therapy,45, 102-115.
    → Click here for the article.
  4. Magidson, J. F., Roberts, B. W., Collado, A., & Lejuez, C. W. (2014). Theory-driven intervention for changing personality: Expectancy value theory, behavioral activation, and conscientiousness. Developmental Psychology, 50, 1442-1450.
    → Click here for the article.
  5. Ryba, M. M., Lejuez, C. W., & Hopko, D. R. (in press). Behavioral activation for depressed breast cancer patients: The impact of therapeutic compliance and quantity of activities completed on symptom reduction. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology.
    → Click here for the article.