Clinical depression in African American women: diagnoses, treatment, and research.

Although there is some debate about the relative prevalence rates of depression in African Americans compared to Whites, there is little debate among investigators that there is a shortage of research data on depression in African Americans generally, and more specifically on African American women. Lack of adequate and sufficient research on African Americans contributes to the problems of misdiagnoses, under-diagnoses, and undertreatment of depression in African Americans, generally, and more specifically, African American women, the focus of this special section. African American women are understudied, underserved, and misdiagnosed as a group. A paucity of studies on depression in African American women has existed for decades. This special series of papers will highlight the existing problem of depression in African American women with a focus on diagnostic, treatment, and research issues.