Racial preferences for participation in a depression prevention trial involving problem-solving therapy.
OBJECTIVE
This study compared African Americans' and Caucasians' willingness to participate in an indicated intervention to prevent depression with problem-solving therapy. It also examined participants' problem-solving skills. Hypotheses stated that there would be no racial differences in consent rates and that social problem-solving coping skills would be lower among African Americans than Caucasians.


METHODS
Proportions of African Americans and Caucasians who consented were compared, as were Social Problem Solving Inventory scores between the groups.


RESULTS
Of 2,788 individuals approached, 82 (4%) of 1,970 Caucasians and 46 (6%) of 818 African Americans signed consent, and the difference was not significant (p=.09). Racial differences were observed in neither Social Problem Solving Inventory scores nor in the relationship between problem-solving skills and depressive symptoms.


CONCLUSIONS
African Americans with depression demonstrated a willingness to participate in an indicated trial of depression prevention. Furthermore, both groups would appear to benefit from the problem-solving process.
Kasckow
John
J
Department of Behavioral Health, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Pittsburgh Health Care System, 7180 Highland Dr., Pittsburgh, PA 15206, USA. kasckowjw@upmc.edu
Brown
Charlotte
C
Morse
Jennifer Q
JQ
Karpov
Irina
I
Bensasi
Salem
S
Thomas
Stephen B
SB
Ford
Angela
A
Reynolds
Charles
C
D000368:Aged; D003863:Depression / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D057240:Patient Preference; D018579:Patient Selection; D011340:Problem Solving; D044469:Racial Groups