A Systematic Review of Culturally Adapted Behavioral Activation Treatments for Depression

Abstract

Objective: Behavioral activation constitutes a promising behavioral treatment for depression. Due to its contextual and idiographic approach, the intervention might be well suited for treating depression in culturally diverse populations. Method: The authors conducted a systematic literature review on culturally adapted behavioral activation treatments. Results: Seventeen studies were identified through database searching involving different target populations and a variety of adapted interventions. Circumstances were frequently shaped by cultural values and a wide range of environmental stressors. Adaptations were found in different dimensions including language, content, methods, and context. Across studies, results indicated the effectiveness of behavioral activation and its cultural adaptations for treating depression in their respective target groups. Discussion: The results of this review may serve as an input both for practitioners employing behavioral activation in their daily work with culturally diverse clients and for researchers interested in culturally adapting treatment to specific populations.