Abstract
This study describes a culturally relevant intervention using a collaborative depression care model to integrate mental health and primary care services for depressed low income Chinese-Americans at a community health center. A total of 6,065 patients were screened for depression. Of the 341 who screened positive, 57 participated and were randomly assigned to receive either enhanced physician care with care management (32) or enhanced physician care only (25). All enrolled participants were assessed at baseline and 4 monthly follow-up visits for depression, physical and mental health functioning, and perceived stigma toward receiving depression care, to determine the impact, if any, of their mental health treatment. Both groups reported significant reduction of depressive symptoms and improved mental health functioning from baseline to follow-up assessments although there was no significant difference between the two groups. Although the study found no advantage to adding the care management component in the treatment of depression, screening and assertive treatment of immigrant Chinese Americans who tend to underutilize mental health services is important and consistent with the increased adoption of team based care models in patient centered medical homes. High refusal rates for enrollment in the study have implications for future study designs for this group.
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Acknowledgments
The authors thank the Charles B Wang Community Health Center staff, especially the members of the steering committee, for their valuable support and contribution. We want to thank Sarah Yip, the care manager, and Cheong Lam and Moonphia Lee, research assistants, for their help in conducting this study. This study was supported by the Center for the Study of Asian American Health of New York University and sponsored by the Grant P60-MD0005-38 from the National Center for Minority Health and Health Disparities, National Institutes of Health.
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Kwong, K., Chung, H., Cheal, K. et al. Depression Care Management for Chinese Americans in Primary Care: A Feasibility Pilot Study. Community Ment Health J 49, 157–165 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-011-9459-9
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-011-9459-9