title: Integration of the brief behavioral activation treatment for depression (BATD) into a college orientation program: depression and alcohol outcomes.
abstract: College freshmen face a variety of academic and social challenges as they adjust to college life that can place them at risk for a number of negative outcomes, including depression and alcohol-related problems. Orientation classes that focus on teaching incoming students how to better cope with college-oriented stress may provide an opportunity to prevent the development of these adjustment problems. This article outlines a program based on behavioral activation that can be integrated into college orientation programs to provide a more comprehensive orientation experience. Data are presented from an initial pilot study in which 71 first-semester freshman at the University of Maryland participated in a 15-week, 2 hr per week orientation class (n = 37 in the behavioral activation-enhanced orientation classes and n = 34 in the control orientation as usual classes). Students' depression and alcohol use were evaluated at the beginning, middle, and end of the course. Results indicated a Time × Group interaction such that problem drinking (but not consumption) was significantly reduced across assessments in the behavioral activation classes and largely unchanged in the standard classes. No difference was observed in depression scores; however, fairly low depression scores across the 3 time points may have limited the opportunity to observe any meaningful impact of the orientation classes on depression. The authors conclude with a discussion of the implications of their findings for preventing adjustment problems among incoming college students and future directions.
authors.affiliation: Center for Addictions, Personality, and Emotion Research, University of Maryland, MD, USA. ereynolds@psyc.umd.edu
authors.forename: Elizabeth K
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Reynolds
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Macpherson
authors.forename: Matthew T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Tull
authors.forename: David E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Baruch
authors.forename: C W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Lejuez
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000523:psychology; D019973:Alcohol-Related Disorders / Q000191:economics / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008396:Maryland; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011614:Psychotherapy, Brief / Q000379:methods*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome