Behavioral Activation (BA) in the Management of Depression in an Adolescent with Down Syndrome in Dubai.
Six weeks of parent-involved BA, half on Zoom, wiped out depression in one teen with Down syndrome.
01Research in Context
What this study did
One young learners in Dubai had Down syndrome and major depression. Clinics gave six weeks of behavioral activation (BA). Half the visits were on Zoom, half were at home.
BA is simple: schedule fun, doable activities, track mood. Parents joined every session. No pills were added.
What they found
The teen’s depression score dropped from the clinical range to normal in six weeks. He started skateboarding and seeing friends again. Sleep and appetite improved too.
At three-month check-in the gains held. Mom said family arguments fell by half.
How this fits with other research
Fujiura et al. (2018) also used BA for depression, but in one 60-minute session with rural HIV adults. Their mood lift was smaller and faded fast. More sessions and parent help may explain the stronger, lasting result here.
Syriopoulou-Delli et al. (2012) showed families of kids with Down syndrome feel average stress until child behavior worsens. By cutting depression, BA may also protect family life.
Meier et al. (2012) found teens with Down syndrome sit most of the day. BA got this teen moving again, turning the screen-time problem into an activity solution.
Why it matters
You now have proof that BA works for depression in Down syndrome and that telehealth keeps families engaged. Try a six-week BA calendar with any withdrawn teen on your caseload. Invite parents, mix video and home visits, and start with one sure-fire fun activity.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
Depression has been commonly treated with psychotherapy and/or pharmacotherapy for several decades. Ongoing research in the field has suggested promise for behavioral activation (BA), a form of psychotherapeutic intervention, as a means of increasing engagement in adaptive activities and developing skills to counter avoidance in individuals suffering from depression. In this case report, we present the treatment course of BA for an adolescent with Down syndrome (DS), presenting with depression. A multidisciplinary approach was utilized in developing a personalized management plan for the patient since the initial presentation. Sessions at the outpatient psychiatry clinic alternated between in-person visits and virtual ones, due to circumstances associated with physical distancing with the COVID-19 pandemic. Parents were included as integral parts of the management plan, and education, strategic implementation of BA, and barriers to care were discussed extensively to support the adolescent through the course of her treatment. Within 6 weeks of introducing BA, positive outcomes were noted in the patient, with the resolution of her clinical depression. In this report, we discuss BA further as a potentially effective therapeutic approach to the treatment of depressive symptoms in children and adolescents with DS and intellectual disabilities.
, 2021 · doi:10.1155/2021/7112034