Books / Cognitive & behavioural
Depression in Context: Strategies for Guided Action
Depression in Context (2001), by Christopher R. Martell, Michael E. Addis and Neil S. Jacobson, presents a contextual behavioural activation approach to depression.
Book details
Author of listed edition: Christopher R. Martell, Michael E. Addis and Neil S. Jacobson
Edition: 1st edition (2001)
Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company
Edition year: 2001
Language and origin: English (United States)
ISBN: 9780393703504
Form and genre: Treatment Manual & Clinical Guide
Level: Intermediate
Historical era: 1980–2009 · Evidence-Based, Trauma & Integrative Era
Covers: Contextual Behavioral Activation (BA); Component analysis of CBT (Jacobson et al., 1996); Secondary problem of avoidance (TRAP vs. TRAC); Functional analysis of rumination
APA 7th reference: Martell, C. R., Addis, M. E., & Jacobson, N. S. (2001). Depression in context: Strategies for guided action. W. W. Norton & Company.
What it is
Published in 2001, this clinical guide presents behavioural activation for depression. Martell, Addis and Jacobson’s account builds on earlier behavioural approaches and research on components of cognitive therapy.
What it covers
The book describes a contextual approach to activity, avoidance and rumination. It considers how behaviour and circumstances can interact; this framework should not be taken as a complete explanation for every person’s depression.
Research context
In a 1996 trial, researchers compared complete cognitive therapy with component treatments and found no evidence that the complete treatment produced better outcomes at the end of treatment or at six-month follow-up. A separate 1998 report examined two-year follow-up. A later 2006 trial compared behavioural activation, cognitive therapy, medication and placebo in adults with major depression; results varied with initial severity and the outcome measured.
Reader level and educational scope
This clinical guide is intended for readers familiar with psychotherapy. Findings from particular trials and populations do not establish equivalence or determine the best treatment for an individual. This entry provides educational context, not clinical advice.
Paired academic and clinical scholarship
Paired work: Randomized Trial of Behavioral Activation, Cognitive Therapy, and Antidepressant Medication in the Acute Treatment of Adults with Major Depression (Sona Dimidjian, Steven D. Hollon, Keith S. Dobson, Karen B. Schmaling, Robert J. Kohlenberg, Michael E. Addis, et al., 2006)
Reference: Dimidjian, S., Hollon, S. D., Dobson, K. S., Schmaling, K. B., Kohlenberg, R. J., Addis, M. E., Gallop, R., McGlinchey, J. B., Markley, D. K., Gollan, J. K., Atkins, D. C., Dunner, D. L., & Jacobson, N. S. (2006). Randomized trial of behavioral activation, cognitive therapy, and antidepressant medication in the acute treatment of adults with major depression. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 74(4), 658–670.
In a 2006 US trial, 241 adults with major depression were assigned to behavioural activation, cognitive therapy, antidepressant medication or placebo. Results differed by initial depression severity and outcome; the study does not establish the best treatment for every person.
Source-mapped claims and evidence notes
Claim 1: A 1996 component study found no evidence that complete cognitive therapy produced better outcomes than its component treatments at the end of treatment or six months later. (No significant difference in this study does not by itself establish equivalence. A separate 1998 paper reported two-year follow-up.) [Source 2: Jacobson, N. S., Dobson, K. S., Truax, P. A., Addis, M. E., Koerner, K., Gollan, J. K., Gortner, E., & Prince, S. E. (1996). A component analysis of cognitive-behavioral treatment for depression. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 64(2), 295–304.]
Claim 2: The authors describe behavioural activation as an approach that considers actions and their context, including patterns of avoidance and rumination. (The publisher record describes the book; the full text has not been independently reviewed.) [Source 1: Martell, C. R., Addis, M. E., & Jacobson, N. S. (2001). Depression in context: Strategies for guided action. W. W. Norton & Company.]
Sources and inspection notes
Supports: Pending verification: Publisher information for the 2001 guide; full text and its clinical claims were not independently reviewed.
Supports: Abstract of the 1996 component trial, including end-of-treatment and six-month outcomes.
Supports: Abstract of the 2006 trial and its comparisons in 241 adults with major depression.
Supports: Separate two-year follow-up report for the component study.