Systematic Review of the Process of Target Behavior Selection and Its Characteristics in Outpatient Settings

Abstract

This study reviewed articles related to behavioral treatments for depression to summarize the process of target behavior selection and describe behavioral measurements in outpatient settings. Numerous international and domestic databases were used to select 11 articles. Of these, multiple target behaviors were reported in 10 articles, and continuous behavioral measurements were featured in seven articles. The selection processes were categorized based on 1) the program, 2) the client’s hopes, 3) the client’s values, and 4) the daily life assessment. The positioning of each targeted behavior was summarized as 1) increasing the targeted behavior as the main objective, and 2) increasing it to achieve other purposes. However, few descriptions have been related to the process of clinical decision-making to achieve target behavior selection in general. Therefore, it is recommended that related information be described in detail to improve treatment quality.