The contribution of self-reinforcement training and behavioral assignments to the efficacy of self-control therapy for depression

Abstract

Four conditions were compared in a study attempting to assess the contribution of self-reinforcement training and behavioral assignments to the efficacy of a behavioral self-control program previously shown to be effective in alleviating moderate depression. Conditions were (1) self-monitoring, self-evaluation, and self reinforcement training (principles and assignments); (2) self-monitoring and self-evaluation training (principles and assignments); (3) didactic training of principles as in condition 1 without behavioral assignments; and (4) a control treatment—problemoriented, psychodynamic group psychotherapy. Forty-nine volunteer female subjects from the community were screened on Beck Depression Inventory and Research Diagnostic Criteria for unipolar, nonpsychotic depression. Two groups were conducted for each of the three structured self-control treatment conditions. One psychotherapy group was conducted. All groups met weekly for 12 weeks. Results based on the 39 participants who completed treatment indicated that all four conditions were equally effective in producing improvements on self-report and clinician measures of symptoms and severity of depression. All four treatments were equally effective in maintaining improvement at 3-month follow-up. Results are discussed in terms of the problem of identifying core components of effective therapy programs and of assessing them in future outcome studies.