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Published Online: 1 April 2011

Differences in Treatment Attitudes Between Depressed African-American and Caucasian Veterans in Primary Care

John Kasckow, M.D., Ph.D. [email protected], Erin Ingram, B.A., Charlotte Brown, Ph.D. [email protected], James D. Tew, M.D. [email protected], Kyaien O. Conner, Ph.D. [email protected], Jennifer Q. Morse, Ph.D. [email protected], Gretchen L. Haas, Ph.D. [email protected], Charles F. Reynolds, M.D. [email protected], and David W. Oslin, M.D.Authors Info & Affiliations
Publication: Psychiatric Services
Volume 62, Number 4
https://doi.org/10.1176/ps.62.4.pss6204_0426
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Abstract

Objectives:

Depressive disorders are common, and it is important to understand the factors that contribute to racial disparities in depression treatment. This primary care study of veterans with subsyndromal depression examined two hypotheses: that African Americans would be less likely than Caucasians to believe that medication is beneficial in depression treatment and would be more likely to believe that counseling or psychotherapy is beneficial.

Methods:

Primary care patients with subsyndromal depression were referred to the Philadelphia Department of Veterans Affairs Behavioral Health Laboratory and asked about past experiences and attitudes toward depression treatment.

Results:

Among 111 African-American and 95 Caucasian participants, logistic regression analyses determined that African Americans were less likely to view medication as beneficial (odds ratio=.44). No racial differences were found in participants' attitude toward counseling or psychotherapy.

Conclusions:

The findings support the premise that clinicians treating patients with subsyndromal depressive syndromes should take into account racial differences in attitudes toward treatment. (Psychiatric Services 62:426–429, 2011)

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Table 1 Past use of antidepressants and counseling or psychotherapy among veterans with subsyndromal depression, by race

Information & Authors

Information

Published In

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Cover: Maine Headland, Black Head, Monhegan Island, by N. C. Wyeth, 1934. Oil on canvas, 48¼ × 52¼ inches. Farnsworth Art Museum, Rockland Maine, bequest of Mrs. Elizabeth B. Noyce, 1997.3.59.
Psychiatric Services
Volume 62 • Number 4 • April 2011
Pages: 426 - 429
PubMed: 21459996

History

Published online: 1 April 2011
Published in print: April 2011

Authors

Affiliations

John Kasckow, M.D., Ph.D. [email protected]
Dr. Kasckow and Dr. Tew are affiliated with the Behavioral Health Division, Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Pittsburgh Health Care System, Pittsburgh, PA 15206 (e-mail: [email protected]). They are also with Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, as are Dr. Brown, Dr. Conner, Dr. Morse, Dr. Haas, and Dr. Reynolds.
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Erin Ingram, B.A.
Ms. Ingram and Dr. Oslin are with MIRECC, Philadelphia VA Medical Center.
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Charlotte Brown, Ph.D. [email protected]
Dr. Kasckow and Dr. Tew are affiliated with the Behavioral Health Division, Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Pittsburgh Health Care System, Pittsburgh, PA 15206 (e-mail: [email protected]). They are also with Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, as are Dr. Brown, Dr. Conner, Dr. Morse, Dr. Haas, and Dr. Reynolds.
View all articles by this author
James D. Tew, M.D. [email protected]
Dr. Kasckow and Dr. Tew are affiliated with the Behavioral Health Division, Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Pittsburgh Health Care System, Pittsburgh, PA 15206 (e-mail: [email protected]). They are also with Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, as are Dr. Brown, Dr. Conner, Dr. Morse, Dr. Haas, and Dr. Reynolds.
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Kyaien O. Conner, Ph.D. [email protected]
Dr. Kasckow and Dr. Tew are affiliated with the Behavioral Health Division, Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Pittsburgh Health Care System, Pittsburgh, PA 15206 (e-mail: [email protected]). They are also with Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, as are Dr. Brown, Dr. Conner, Dr. Morse, Dr. Haas, and Dr. Reynolds.
View all articles by this author
Jennifer Q. Morse, Ph.D. [email protected]
Dr. Kasckow and Dr. Tew are affiliated with the Behavioral Health Division, Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Pittsburgh Health Care System, Pittsburgh, PA 15206 (e-mail: [email protected]). They are also with Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, as are Dr. Brown, Dr. Conner, Dr. Morse, Dr. Haas, and Dr. Reynolds.
View all articles by this author
Gretchen L. Haas, Ph.D. [email protected]
Dr. Kasckow and Dr. Tew are affiliated with the Behavioral Health Division, Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Pittsburgh Health Care System, Pittsburgh, PA 15206 (e-mail: [email protected]). They are also with Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, as are Dr. Brown, Dr. Conner, Dr. Morse, Dr. Haas, and Dr. Reynolds.
Dr. Haas is also with the VA Pittsburgh Health Care System, Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC).
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Charles F. Reynolds, M.D. [email protected]
Dr. Kasckow and Dr. Tew are affiliated with the Behavioral Health Division, Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Pittsburgh Health Care System, Pittsburgh, PA 15206 (e-mail: [email protected]). They are also with Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, as are Dr. Brown, Dr. Conner, Dr. Morse, Dr. Haas, and Dr. Reynolds.
View all articles by this author
David W. Oslin, M.D.
Ms. Ingram and Dr. Oslin are with MIRECC, Philadelphia VA Medical Center.
Dr. Oslin is also with the Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia.
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