Table 5 Theoretical definitions for the properties of the model

Personal aspects

Personal history

-History and comorbidity

History, aetiology, course, severity of depressive disorder and comorbidity that determines psychological capacity.

-Vital changes

Modifications in forms and lifestyles with significant effects for the subject.

Disposition

-G. Facilitators

Personal or environmental aspects that encourage participation and engagement with the programme, like the feeling of improvement, the practice of certain activities, or the ease and simplicity of compliance.

-G. Barriers

Personal or environmental aspects that complicate participation and commitment to the programme, such as the symptoms of the actual disorder, and apathy.

Program aspects

Presentation and monitoring

-Instructions

Clear presentation and explanation of the recommendations that make up the programme, using different channels and giving them the importance that they deserve, but with some flexibility, progressiveness and tailoring so that they are possible to implement.

-Assessment

Assessment of compliance with the specific programme recommendations, with appropriate monitoring and support suited to the characteristics of patients and their disorder.

-Supervision

Regular reminders and visits to a professional specialist in a personal and intimate context, which allows patients to converse in confidence.

-Pharmaceutical

Managing of the antidepressant drugs, of possible improvement and their side effects.

Cognitive habits

-Agency

Determination, personal effort when carrying out the program instructions, search for security and self-confidence.

-Ruminations

Negative thoughts that hinder the implementation of the habits proposed in the programme.

-Avoidance

Evasion of responsibilities via distracting activities on a cognitive level.

-Restructurings

Modification of the values and ways of thinking in the sense of facilitating potential inclusion of the programme recommendations within the activities of daily life.

-Guilt

Feelings of guilt derived from the failure to comply with the recommendations.

Behavioural habits

-Activation

Mobilization of resources towards the carrying out of activities, breaking with inactivity and attempting to achieve behavioural objectives, little by little, generalized to all spheres.

-Empowerment

To enable patients to lead their recovery.

-Time pressure

Difficulties for giving instructions regarding change of habits in a short consultation.

-Habit control

Personal ability to implement habit requirements and recommendations.

-Opportunities

Socio-economic capacity to acquire certain foods, to follow certain instructions, and to carry out physical and pleasant activities.

Transversal aspects

Social support

-Group format of intervention

Social support coming from the group format of intervention, which helps to realize one is not alone when facing difficulties, in order to cope with depression and change habits.

-Contact with others

People in the patient’s close social context – apart from family members and friends – that provide face-to-face contact and the opportunity for the acquisition of recommendations.

Objectives

-Adjustment

Fit of the programme to the situation of each patient, with special interest in the prevention of recurrences once the patient has improved depression.

-Intervention level

Special affinity of the programme with a level of individual intervention integrated in healthcare systems, although with possible connections with the media and educational systems.