A Psychometric Evaluation of the Cognitive-Behavioral Avoidance Scale in Women with Major Depressive Disorder Nicole D. Ottenbreit & Keith S. Dobson & Leanne Quigley # Springer Science+Business Media New York 2014 Abstract The Cognitive-Behavioral Avoidance Scale (CBAS; Ottenbreit & Dobson, Behaviour Research and Ther- apy, 42, 292–313; 2004) is a multidimensional self-report measure designed to assess the construct of dispositional avoidance. Although findings to date support the reliability and validity of the CBAS within student samples, no study has yet evaluated the psychometric properties of the CBAS in a clinical sample of depressed individuals. The primary purpose of the present study was to examine the psychometric proper- ties of the CBAS within a sample of 60 women diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder. Results supported the inter- nal consistency and 4-month test-retest reliability of the scale. As predicted, the CBAS total scale and subscales were corre- lated with convergent measures of avoidance as well as de- pressive symptoms. The results of this study provide support for the psychometric properties of the CBAS in samples of clinically depressed individuals. Study limitations and future research directions are discussed. Keywords Avoidance . Depression . Coping . Cognitive avoidance . Behavioral avoidance Avoidance has received increased attention in the conceptual- ization of depression in recent years (Trew 2011). The con- struct of avoidance refers to refraining or escaping from an action, person, or thing. Although avoidance is typically viewed as a behavioral act or lack of action, it can also take the form of cognitive activities such as distraction or denial. Experiential avoidance is another conceptualization of avoidance that refers to efforts to escape private internal experiences such as emotions, thoughts, and memories (Hayes et al. 1996). Avoidance versus approach processes have been delineated in models of motivation. Gray (1982, 1990) posited the existence of behavioral activation and be- havioral inhibition motivational systems. The behavioral acti- vation system is reward-driven and activates approach behav- ior, whereas the behavioral inhibition system is punishment- driven and activates avoidance behavior. Overactivity of the behavioral inhibition system has been linked to depression and other forms of psychopathology (Trew 2011). Avoidance may contribute to the development and mainte- nance of depression through several distinct mechanisms (Trew 2011). Four decades ago, Ferster (1973) posited that the tendency of depressed individuals to avoid and escape from aversive internal and external stimuli precludes oppor- tunities for positive reinforcement. As depressed individuals employ more avoidance and escape behaviors, their range of behaviors narrows and becomes characterized by passivity rather than initiative or action (Ferster 1973). Avoidance may also contribute to the negative information processing biases characteristic of depression, through activation of asso- ciative networks (Trew 2011). Avoidance and behavioral in- hibition system sensitivity may be linked to biases in attention and memory that favour the processing of negative informa- tion, which in turn may contribute to negative affect and vulnerability to depression onset and recurrence (Gotlib & Joormann, 2010; Trew 2011). Behavioral Activation (BA) treatment for depression emphasizes the role of avoidance patterns in the development and maintenance of depression (Jacobson et al. 2001; Martell et al. 2001). BA treatment focuses on developing skills in the depressed individuals’ repertoire to counter the avoidance and passive coping pat- terns, increase activities, and facilitate access to positive rein- forcement in the environment. BA treatments, including brief behavioral interventions (Hopko et al. 2003; Lejuez et al. N. D. Ottenbreit Alberta Health Services, Calgary, Alberta, Canada K. S. Dobson (*) : L. Quigley Department of Psychology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2N 1N4 e-mail: ksdobson@ucalgary.ca J Psychopathol Behav Assess DOI 10.1007/s10862-014-9416-3