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Updated: Jun 11, 2026
Design and Implementation of an fMRI Study Examining Thought Suppression in Young Women with, and At-risk, for Depression
Published on: May 19, 2015
Racial preferences for participation in a depression prevention trial involving problem-solving therapy
John Kasckow1, Charlotte Brown, Jennifer Q Morse
1Department of Behavioral Health, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Pittsburgh Health Care System, 7180 Highland Dr., Pittsburgh, PA 15206, USA. kasckowjw@upmc.edu
Objectives:
This study compared African Americans' and Caucasians' willingness to participate in an indicated intervention to prevent depression with problem-solving therapy. It also examined participants' problem-solving skills. Hypotheses stated that there would be no racial differences in consent rates and that social problem-solving coping skills would be lower among African Americans than Caucasians.
Methods:
Proportions of African Americans and Caucasians who consented were compared, as were Social Problem Solving Inventory scores between the groups.
Results:
Of 2,788 individuals approached, 82 (4%) of 1,970 Caucasians and 46 (6%) of 818 African Americans signed consent, and the difference was not significant (p=.09). Racial differences were observed in neither Social Problem Solving Inventory scores nor in the relationship between problem-solving skills and depressive symptoms.
Conclusions:
African Americans with depression demonstrated a willingness to participate in an indicated trial of depression prevention. Furthermore, both groups would appear to benefit from the problem-solving process.
