Treating Depression in Vulnerable Urban Women: A Feasibility Study of Clinical Outcomes in Community Service Settings

• Published in: American journal of orthopsychiatry 2007-07, Vol.77 (3), p.443-453
• Main Author: Foster, RoseMarie Perez
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Behavior therapy. Cognitive therapy; Biological and medical sciences; Clinical outcomes; Cognitive Therapy; Community Mental Health Services; Community Mental Health Services - organization & administration; Community services; Depression; Depression - epidemiology; Depression - psychology; Depression - therapy; depression treatment; Feasibility Studies; Female; Females; Group psychotherapy; Hispanic Americans; Hispanic Americans - statistics & numerical data; Hispanic women; Hispanics; Homeless; homeless women; Homelessness; Human; Human Females; Humans; Latinos/Latinas; Major Depression; Medical sciences; Medical treatment; Mental depression; Mental health; Mental Hospitals; Middle Aged; Minority Groups; minority women; Psychology; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Psychotherapies. Psychological and clinical counseling; Social Support; Studies; Surveys and Questionnaires; Treatment Outcomes; Treatments; Urban Areas; Urban Population - statistics & numerical data; Vulnerability; Women
• ISSN: 0002-9432; 1939-0025
• DOI: 10.1037/0002-9432.77.3.443

There is a paucity of literature on direct treatment outcomes for impoverished minority populations. The current study supports the feasibility of successfully treating women for depressive symptoms in community settings where they typically seek care, adding to the small but growing direct knowledge base in this area. The sample of the 2-site study consisted of 91 women seeking treatment for depressive complaints at a homeless shelter program and a municipal hospital psychiatric clinic for Latino patients. Participants were randomly assigned to either a 16-week cognitive-behavioral group or a 16-week supportive/exploratory group for depression. Best-practice features with this population were integrated throughout. Findings showed that both treatment conditions were equally effective in decreasing depressive symptoms (BDI, CES-D) up to 4 months after treatment termination. These changes were paralleled by improvements in self-reported physical health (Duke Physical Profile). No significant differences between treatment conditions were found. Directives for next steps in the current research agenda are offered in efforts to broaden the direct evidence base for treating vulnerable urban women at high risk for depression and other forms of mental illness.