PARTICIPATION IN AND OUTCOME OF TREATMENT FOR MAJOR DEPRESSION AMONG LOW-INCOME ASIAN-AMERICANS

This study examined the relationship of four aspects of psychiatric treatment (use of medication, client-therapist ethnic match, treatment in an Asian-specific clinic, and professional therapist) to participation in treatment and outcome of treatment in low income Asian-American clients (n = 273) of the Los Angeles County mental health system who were diagnosed with major depression. Based on cultural responsiveness theory, the study tested the hypothesis that use of medication in treatment would have the greatest effect on participation and outcome followed, in order, by client-therapist ethnic match, treatment in an Asian-specific clinic, and treatment by a professional therapist. The hypotheses were largely supported: treatment with medication had a significant relationship to total number of treatment sessions (participation) and improvement in the admission-discharge Global Assessment Scale (GAS) score (outcome). Treatment by a therapist of the same ethnicity as the client and treatment in an agency designated to provide services to Asian clients both had significant relationships to the number of treatment sessions but not to GAS score improvement. Four covariates included in the analysis and treatment by a professional therapist had no relationship to either of the dependent variables.