Depression

Depression is characterized by an extended period of low mood, anhedonia, and reduction in activity. Dysthymia (persistent depressive disorder) is characterized by a depressed mood that occurs for most of the day, more days than not, and has been present for at least two years. Depression is a heterogeneous condition with many different triggers, presentations, and maintaining factors. Cognitive behavioral therapies (including acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), compassion focused therapy (CFT), and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)) are effective evidence-based treatment for depression, and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) is an effective intervention for preventing the recurrence of depression. Read more

See recommended resources

Recent releases

Filter

Sort by

Links to external resources

Psychology Tools makes every effort to check external links and review their content. However, we are not responsible for the quality or content of external links and cannot guarantee that these links will work all of the time.

Assessment

Valued Living Questionnaire (Version 2) | Wilson, Groom | 2002
Archived Link
Ruminative responses scale | Treynor, Gonzalez, Nolen-Hoeksema | 2003
- Scale
  Primary Link Archived Link
Clinically Useful Depression Outcome Scale (CUDOS) | Zimmerman, Chelminski, McGlinchey, Posternak | 2008
- Scale
  Archived Link
- Zimmerman, M., Chelminski, I., McGlinchey, J. B., & Posternak, M. A. (2008). A clinically useful depression outcome scale. Comprehensive psychiatry, 49(2), 131-140.
Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale | Zung | 1965
- Scale
  Archived Link
- Reference Zung, W. W. (1965). A self-rating depression scale. Archives of General Psychiatry, 12(1), 63-70.
Severity Measure For Depression – Adult (Adapted from the Patient Health Questionnaire–9 (PHQ-9)) | APA (Spitzer, Williams, Kroenke and colleagues)
- Scale – Adult
  Primary Link Archived Link
- Scale – Child Age 11-17
  Primary Link Archived Link
Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ-9) | Kroenke, Spitzer | 2002
- Scale phqscreeners.com
  Primary Link
- Kroenke, K., & Spitzer, R. L. (2002). The PHQ-9: a new depression diagnostic and severity measure. Psychiatric annals, 32(9), 509-515.
Montgomery & Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) | Montgomery, Asberg | 1979
- Scale
  Primary Link Archived Link
- MADRS Score Card
  Archived Link
- Montgomery, S.A., Asberg, M. (1979). A new depression scale designed to be sensitive to change. British Journal of Psychiatry, 134 (4): 382–89.
Hamilton Rating Scale For Depression (HAM-D) | Hamilton | 1960
- Scale
  Archived Link
- Hamilton M. (1960). A rating scale for depression. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry, 23, 56–62.
Edinburgh Post Natal Depression Scale (EPDS) | Cox, Holden, Sagovsky | 1987
- Scale
  Primary Link
- Cox, J. L., Holden, J. M., & Sagovsky, R. (1987). Detection of postnatal depression: development of the 10-item Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. The British Journal of Psychiatry, 150(6), 782-786.

Case Conceptualization / Case Formulation

Developing and using a case formulation to guide cognitive behaviour therapy | Persons | 2015
Primary Link Archived Link
Cognitive conceptualisation (excerpt from Basics and Beyond) | J. Beck
Archived Link

Guides and workbooks

Mood And Substance Use | NDARC: Mills, Marel, Baker, Teesson, Dore, Kay-Lambkin, Manns, Trimingham | 2011
Primary Link

Information Handouts

Depression (Information Handouts) | Centre For Clinical Interventions
- What Is Depression?
  Primary Link Archived Link
- What Causes Depression?
  Primary Link Archived Link
- Psychotherapy for Depression
  Primary Link Archived Link
- Vicious Cycle of Depression
  Primary Link Archived Link
- Behavioural Activation: Fun and Achievement
  Primary Link Archived Link
- Fun Activities Catalogue
  Primary Link Archived Link
- Improving How You Feel
  Primary Link Archived Link
- Thinking and Feeling
  Primary Link Archived Link
- Analysing Your Thinking
  Primary Link Archived Link
- Changing Your Negative Thinking
  Primary Link Archived Link
- Unhelpful Thinking Styles
  Primary Link Archived Link
- What Are Core Beliefs?
  Primary Link Archived Link
- Problem Solving
  Primary Link Archived Link
- Staying Healthy
  Primary Link Archived Link
- Grief and Bereavement
  Primary Link Archived Link

Information (Professional)

Get out of the TRAP and back on TRAC (for rumination and worry) | GoodMedicine
Primary Link Archived Link

Self-Help Programmes

Behavioral Activation For Depression | Southwark Psychological Therapies Service | 2012
- Introduction to BA for depression
  Archived Link
- Monitoring Activity And Mood
  Archived Link
- Roadmap: The Activation Plan
  Archived Link
- Finding Direction: Values, Flow, And Strengths
  Archived Link
- Avoidance And Depression TRAPs
  Archived Link
- Thinking Habits
  Archived Link
- Next Steps
  Archived Link
Back from the Bluez (Workbook) | Centre For Clinical Interventions | 2003
- Module 1: Overview of Depression
  Primary Link Archived Link
- Module 2: Behavioural Strategies for Managing Depression
  Primary Link Archived Link
- Module 3: The Thinking-Feeling Connection
  Primary Link Archived Link
- Module 4: The ABC Analysis
  Primary Link Archived Link
- Module 5: Unhelpful Thinking Styles
  Primary Link Archived Link
- Module 6: Detective Work and Disputation
  Primary Link Archived Link
- Module 7: The End Result
  Primary Link Archived Link
- Module 8: Core Beliefs
  Primary Link Archived Link
- Module 9: Self-Management
  Primary Link Archived Link
Back From The Bluez (Workbook) | Centre For Clinical Interventions | 2003
- Module 1: Overview Of Depression
  Primary Link
- Module 2: Behavioral Strategies For Managing Depression
  Primary Link
- Module 3: The Thinking-Feeling Connection
  Primary Link
- Module 4: The ABC Analysis
  Primary Link
- Module 5: Unhelpful Thinking Styles
  Primary Link
- Module 6: Detective Work And Disputation
  Primary Link
- Module 7: The End Result
  Primary Link
- Module 8: Core Beliefs
  Primary Link
- Module 9: Self Management
  Primary Link

Treatment Guide

Depression In Adults: Treatment And Management (NICE Guideline) | NICE | 2022
Primary Link
Behavioural activation treatment for depression (BATD) manual | Lejuez, Hopko & Hopko | 2001
Archived Link
Suicide and self injury: a practitioners guide | Forensic Psychology Practice Ltd | 1999
Archived Link
Behavioural activation treatment for depression – revised (BATD-R) manual | Lejuez, Hopko, Acierno, Daughters, Pagoto | 2011
Archived Link
Metacognitive Training For Depression (D-MCT) Manual | Jelinek, Schneider, Hauschild, Moritz | 2023
Primary Link Archived Link
Metacognitive Training For Depression | Jelinek, Hauschildt, Moritz & Schneider | 2022
- Module 1: Thinking and reasoning 1
  Primary Link Archived Link
- Module 2: Memory
  Primary Link Archived Link
- Module 3: Thinking and reasoning 2
  Archived Link
- Module 4: Self-worth
  Primary Link Archived Link
- Module 5: Thinking and reasoning 3
  Primary Link Archived Link
- Module 6: Behaviors and strategies
  Primary Link Archived Link
- Module 7: Thinking and reasoning 4
  Primary Link Archived Link
- Module 8: Perception of feelings
  Primary Link Archived Link
Cognitive-behavioral therapy for depression in young people: a modular treatment manual | Orygen | 2015
Primary Link Archived Link
Group therapy manual for cognitive behavioral treatment of depression | Muñoz, Miranda | 1993
Archived Link
CBT For Depression In Veterans And Military Service Members – Therapist Manual | Wenzel, Brown, Carlin | 2011
Primary Link Archived Link
Cognitive behaviour therapy for depression in young people: manual for therapists | Improving Mood with Psychoanalytic and Cognitive Therapies (IMPACT) Study CBT Sub-Group | 2010
Primary Link Archived Link
Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT) Group Program For Depression | Milner, Tischler, DeSena, Rimer
Primary Link Archived Link
Manual for group cognitive-behavioral therapy of major depression: a reality management approach (Instructor’s manual) | Muñoz, Ippen, Rao, Le, Dwyer | 2000
Primary Link
Individual therapy manual for cognitive-behavioural treatment of depression | Ricardo Muñoz, Jeanne Miranda | 1996
Primary Link Archived Link
Depression In Adults: Recognition And Management | National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines | 2009
Primary Link Archived Link

Worksheets

Depression (Worksheets) | Centre For Clinical Interventions
- Symptoms of Depression
  Primary Link Archived Link
- Behavioural Activation
  Primary Link Archived Link
- My Behavioural Antidepressants
  Primary Link Archived Link
- Weekly Activity Schedule
  Primary Link Archived Link
- Weekly Goals Record
  Primary Link Archived Link
- Making the Connection (Between Thoughts and Feelings)
  Primary Link Archived Link
- Thought Diary 1
  Primary Link Archived Link
- Thought Diary 2
  Primary Link Archived Link
- Thought Diary 3
  Primary Link Archived Link
- Thought Diary (Tri-fold)
  Primary Link Archived Link
- Core Beliefs Worksheet
  Primary Link Archived Link
- Healthy Me
  Primary Link Archived Link
- Goal Setting (End of Therapy)
  Primary Link Archived Link

What Is Depression?

Signs and Symptoms of Depression

To meet DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for major depressive disorder an individual must have experienced five of the following symptoms for at least two weeks:

a depressed mood that is present most of the day, nearly every day
diminished interest in activities which were previously experienced as pleasurable
fatigue or a loss of energy
sleep disturbance (insomnia or hypersomnia)
feelings of worthlessness, self-reproach, or excessive guilt
a diminished ability to think or concentrate, or indecisiveness
recurrent thoughts of death or suicide, or suicidal behavior
changes in appetite marked by a corresponding weight change
psychomotor agitation or retardation to a degree which is observable by others

Psychological Models and Theory of Depression

Beck’s cognitive theory of depression (Beck, Rush, Shaw, & Emery, 1979) forms the basis for cognitive behavioral approaches for the treatment of depression. Beck’s theory proposes that there are different levels of cognition that can be dysfunctional in depression: core beliefs, rules and assumptions, and negative automatic thoughts. CBT aims to balance negatively biased cognition with more rational and accurate thoughts, beliefs, and assumptions. CBT also systematically aims to increase levels of rewarding activity.

Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) proposes that distress, including symptoms of depression, are the result of psychological inflexibility (Hayes, Luoma, Bond, Masuda, & Lillis, 2006). Indicators of psychological inflexibility include:

‘buying in’ to negative thoughts and narratives;
engaging in worry or rumination that takes us away from the present moment;
losing contact with our values—what is important to us.

Evidence-Based Psychological Approaches for Working with Depression

Many psychological therapies have an evidence base for working with depression:

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
Behavioral activation (BA)
Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT)
Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) for preventing relapse
Interpersonal therapy (IPT)

Resources for Working with Depression

Psychology Tools resources available for working therapeutically with depression may include:

psychological models of depression
information handouts for depression
exercises for depression
CBT worksheets for depression
self-help programs for depression

References

Beck, A. T., Rush, A. J., Shaw, B. F., & Emery, G. (1979). Cognitive therapy of depression. New York: Guilford Press.
Hayes, S. C., Luoma, J. B., Bond, F. W., Masuda, A., & Lillis, J. (2006). Acceptance and commitment therapy: Model, processes and outcomes. BehaviourResearch and Therapy, 44(1), 1–25.

Depression

.st0{fill:none;stroke:#000;stroke-width:2;stroke-linecap:round;stroke-linejoin:round;stroke-miterlimit:10} Filter

.st0{fill:none;stroke:#000;stroke-width:2;stroke-linecap:round;stroke-linejoin:round;stroke-miterlimit:10} Filter

Search

Language

Resource type

Problem

Therapy tool

Links to external resources

Assessment

Case Conceptualization / Case Formulation

Guides and workbooks

Information Handouts

Information (Professional)

Self-Help Programmes

Treatment Guide

Worksheets

Recommended Reading

What Is Depression?

Signs and Symptoms of Depression

Psychological Models and Theory of Depression

Evidence-Based Psychological Approaches for Working with Depression

Resources for Working with Depression

References

Filter

Filter