Latino immigrants with depression: an initial examination of treatment issues at a community clinic.
The objective of this study is to investigate specific characteristics that may affect the psychological treatment retention of Latinos diagnosed with depression in a community mental health clinic that provides culturally responsive services. Thirty-six Latino clients participated in the pilot study. Descriptive statistics were generated on acculturation, acculturative stress, familismo (the importance of the family), specific demographic variables, and other factors potentially related to treatment outcome. Two specific groups were compared: regular attendees (RAs; n = 18) and premature terminators (PTs; n = 18). RAs were significantly less likely to be employed, and more likely to have medications prescribed at the clinic compared to PTs. Acculturation, acculturative stress, and familismo did not differentiate between groups but were found to characterize the entire sample. The results support the premise that psychological treatment combined with medication keeps clients in treatment. Knowledge of perceived and actual barriers encountered by Latino clients are necessary to guide community-based mental health clinics in developing effective service delivery alternatives that will enhance treatment engagement.
Santiago-Rivera
Azara L
AL
Department of Educational Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, PO Box 413, Milwaukee, WI 53201-0413, USA. Azara@uwm.edu
Kanter
Jonathan W
JW
Busch
Andrew M
AM
Rusch
Laura C
LC
Reyes
William
W
West
Paul
P
Runge
Martha
M
D000069:Acculturation; D000328:Adult; D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000592:standards / Q000639:trends; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003156:Community Mental Health Services / Q000592:standards* / Q000639:trends; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000628:therapy*; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010865:Pilot Projects; D018570:Risk Assessment; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D014481:United States