Wei-Chin Hwang1, Hector F Myers1, Eddie Chiu1, Elsie Mak1, Jonathan E Butner1, Ken Fujimoto1, Jeffrey J Wood1, Jeanne Miranda1. 1. Dr. Hwang is with the Department of Psychology, Claremont McKenna College, Claremont, California (e-mail: whwang@cmc.edu ). Dr. Myers is with the Department of Psychology, Dr. Wood is with the Department of Education, and Dr. Miranda is with the Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles. Dr. Chiu is with the Department of Psychology, Alliant University, San Francisco. Dr. Mak is with the Department of Psychology, Palo Alto University, Palo Alto, California. Dr. Butner is with the Department of Psychology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City. Dr. Fujimoto is with the Research Methodology Program, School of Education, Loyola University Chicago.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: No randomized controlled trials (RCTs) for adults have compared the effectiveness of a well-specified psychotherapy and a culturally adapted version of the same treatment. This study evaluated the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and culturally adapted CBT (CA-CBT) in treating depressed Chinese-American adults. METHODS: This RCT treated 50 Chinese Americans who met criteria for major depression and sought treatment at community mental health clinics. Screening of participants began in September 2008, and the last assessment was conducted in March 2011. Participants were stratified by whether they were already taking antidepressants when they first came to the clinic and randomly assigned to 12 sessions of CBT or CA-CBT. The study did not influence regular prescription practices. The primary outcomes were dropout rates and Hamilton Depression Rating Scale scores at baseline, session 4, session 8, and session 12. RESULTS: Participants in CA-CBT demonstrated a greater overall decrease in depressive symptoms compared with participants in CBT, but the groups had similarly high depression rates at week 12. Differences in dropout rates for the two groups approached, but did not meet, statistical significance (7%, CA-CBT; 26%, CBT). CONCLUSIONS:Chinese Americans entered this study with very severe depression. Participants in both CBT and CA-CBT demonstrated significant decreases in depressive symptoms, but the majority did not reach remission. Results suggest that these short-term treatments were not sufficient to address such severe depression and that more intensive and longer treatments may be needed. Results also indicate that cultural adaptations may confer additional treatment benefits.
RCT Entities:
OBJECTIVE: No randomized controlled trials (RCTs) for adults have compared the effectiveness of a well-specified psychotherapy and a culturally adapted version of the same treatment. This study evaluated the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and culturally adapted CBT (CA-CBT) in treating depressed Chinese-American adults. METHODS: This RCT treated 50 Chinese Americans who met criteria for major depression and sought treatment at community mental health clinics. Screening of participants began in September 2008, and the last assessment was conducted in March 2011. Participants were stratified by whether they were already taking antidepressants when they first came to the clinic and randomly assigned to 12 sessions of CBT or CA-CBT. The study did not influence regular prescription practices. The primary outcomes were dropout rates and Hamilton Depression Rating Scale scores at baseline, session 4, session 8, and session 12. RESULTS:Participants in CA-CBT demonstrated a greater overall decrease in depressive symptoms compared with participants in CBT, but the groups had similarly high depression rates at week 12. Differences in dropout rates for the two groups approached, but did not meet, statistical significance (7%, CA-CBT; 26%, CBT). CONCLUSIONS: Chinese Americans entered this study with very severe depression. Participants in both CBT and CA-CBT demonstrated significant decreases in depressive symptoms, but the majority did not reach remission. Results suggest that these short-term treatments were not sufficient to address such severe depression and that more intensive and longer treatments may be needed. Results also indicate that cultural adaptations may confer additional treatment benefits.
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