Depression can be seen as a set of deficits in self-control behavior. Proceeding from this model, a behavioral, self-control therapy program was developed. Two studies evaluated this program with depressed female volunteers. The first study compared the program to non-specific group therapy and a waiting list control condition. Both Self-Control and non-specific group subjects improved from pre- to post-testing in comparison to Waiting List subjects. Greater improvement was shown by Self-Control subjects on both cognitive and overt-behavior measures of depression and experimental measures of self-control functions. In the second study the experimental Self-Control Therapy program was compared with a behavioral Social Skills training program. While subjects in both conditions improved with therapy, the Self-Control group showed greater improvement on cognitive measures of depression and self-reported activity level. Groups improved equally in direct observation measures of verbal activity. On measures of self-control functions the Self-Control group showed greater change, whereas measures of social skills did not indicate differential change. Overall, the two studies showed that a behavioral self-control program of psychotherapy aimed at modifying cognitive and overt-motor behaviors can have a significant impact on depression. (Author)