Assessing excessive and avoidance behaviours in depression v1.0
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Assessing excessive and avoidance behaviours in depression: A study to develop a new self-report measure.
IRAS ID
198898
Contact name
Natalie Coope
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University College London
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
Z6364106/2016/01/78, UCL Data Protection reference number; 16/0083, UCL R & D reference number
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 25 days
Research summary
Behavioural activation (BA) is one of the psychological interventions recommended for depression by the NICE Guidelines (NICE, 2009). BA is based on the theory that depression is associated with a reduction in positively reinforced behaviours, and a corresponding increase in behaviours that function as avoidance and escape. According to BA, mood can be improved through engaging in approach behaviours, in the direction of a person’s values, and often towards what one is avoiding.
Thus a key aim of BA is to conduct a full assessment of a depressed person's behaviours to identify, in particular, those that function as avoidance. Yet there is currently no systematic way of assessing such behaviours, including excessive behaviours functioning as avoidance.
This study intends to develop a new self-report measure of avoidance behaviours for use by clinicians and researchers working with depressed individuals. There will be two phases to the study.
Phase 1: Piloting the new measure
Consenting adult participants with depression in primary care (and private sector) mental health services will be invited to complete the new measure of excessive and avoidance behaviours (and other measures) so that data can be correlated to determine how the new measure performs against existing validated assessment measures.Phase 2: Semi-structured interviews
The research student will conduct semi-structured interviews with a sample of participants who have taken part in Phase 1 to (a) carry out a functional analysis of their excessive/avoidance behaviours identified by the new measure (b) (if time permits) identify relevant approach behaviours in the direction of their chosen values so that such behaviours might then be targeted during a subsequent intervention, and (c) gather feedback on their experience of completing the new measure (in terms of acceptability, ease of comprehension and usability) so that its drafting can be refined.REC name
London - Camden & Kings Cross Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/LO/1020
Date of REC Opinion
5 Aug 2016
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion