Effectiveness of Behavioral Activation Group Therapy for Patients With Depression at the Community in Thanh Hoa

Effectiveness of Behavioral Activation Group Therapy for Patients With Depression at the Community in Thanh Hoa

This study aimed to evaluate whether the 8-week BA group therapy delivered at commune health stations (CHSs) improves depressive symptom severity, psychological distress, behavioral activation, resilient coping, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) compared with control care, from post-intervention through 9 months of follow-up, and whether effects vary across follow-up time points. By using a cluster-randomized trial design in routine CHS settings with supervised delivery by trained commune health staff, this study addresses an important evidence gap on scalable, community-based depression care in Vietnam. The investigators further reasoned that brief, structured psychological interventions that can be implemented within primary care services may help expand access to evidence-based depression care where specialist resources are limited.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Eligible participants were adults aged 18-65 years in six participating communes (Quang Trach, Quang Hop, Quang Truong, Quang Duc, Quang Giao, Quang Loc) and having PHQ-9 scores ≥10 at CHS screening.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Exclusion criteria included severe physical illness, severe mental disorders, substance use disorders, epilepsy, dementia, intellectual disability, physical disabilities, psychotic symptoms (e.g., paranoia or hallucinations), or severe suicidal ideation requiring urgent referral.