An exploratory study of ethnicity and psychotherapy outcome among HIV-positive patients with depressive symptoms.
Few data address the relationship between ethnic status and psychotherapy outcome. This study reports data from a four-cell, 16-week controlled clinical trial for HIV-positive patients with depressive symptoms. Patients (N = 101) were randomized to 16 weeks of treatment with interpersonal psychotherapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), supportive psychotherapy, or imipramine plus supportive psychotherapy. Analyses found an ethnicity-by-treatment interaction wherein African-American subjects (n = 18) assigned to CBT (n = 4) had significantly poorer outcomes than other patients. This is the first study to uncover an ethnicity-by-specific psychotherapy interaction. Its meaning is unclear. This charged topic requires cautious treatment, particularly given the small sample size in this study, but warrants further research.
Markowitz
J C
JC
Department of Psychiatry, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, New York 10021, USA. jcmarko@mail.med.cornell.edu
Spielman
L A
LA
Sullivan
M
M
Fishman
B
B
D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D011897:Random Allocation; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012737:Sex Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome