Culturally sensitive psychotherapy for perinatal women: A mixed methods study

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Psychiatry
• Mental Health

Background:

• There is a critical need to evaluate psychological treatments, such as behavioral activation (BA), through a culturally sensitive lens.
• Understanding treatment satisfaction in diverse perinatal populations is essential for equitable mental healthcare delivery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine treatment satisfaction among perinatal patients receiving BA for depression and anxiety.
• To explore strategies for optimizing culturally sensitive delivery of BA from a multistakeholder perspective.

Main Methods:

• A mixed-methods study involving 417 perinatal participants and semistructured interviews with 20 participants, 19 providers, and 5 clinical leads.
• Client Satisfaction Questionnaire (CSQ-8) was used to measure treatment satisfaction, with analysis of variance (ANOVA) comparing scores across ethnic groups.
• Content analysis of interview data identified barriers, facilitators, and strategies for culturally sensitive treatment.

Main Results:

• Treatment satisfaction scores (CSQ-8) were comparable across different ethnic groups.
• Most participants reported that race, ethnicity, and culture were discussed and handled sensitively during therapy.
• A significant majority of providers and clinical leads reported inadequate training in delivering culturally sensitive psychotherapy.

Conclusions:

• Behavioral activation (BA) is a viable model for culturally sensitive care, promoting humility and comfort.
• Recommendations include explicitly addressing race, ethnicity, and culture in sessions and supervision.
• Ongoing training and supervision are crucial for enhancing culturally sensitive psychotherapy delivery.