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Stigma and the Acceptability of Depression Treatments Among African Americans and Whites

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Abstract

BACKGROUND

Stigma is associated with depression treatment, however, whether stigma differs between depression treatment modalities is not known, nor have racial differences in depression treatment stigma been fully explored.

OBJECTIVE

To measure stigma for four depression treatments and estimate its association with treatment acceptability for African Americans and whites.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional, anonymous mailed survey.

PARTICIPANTS

Four hundred and ninety African-American and white primary care patients.

MEASUREMENTS

The acceptability of four depression treatments (prescription medication, mental health counseling, herbal remedy, and spiritual counseling) was assessed using a vignette. Treatment-specific stigma was evaluated by asking whether participants would: (1) feel ashamed; (2) feel comfortable telling friends and family; (3) feel okay if people in their community knew; and (4) not want people at work to know about each depression treatment. Sociodemographics, depression history, and current depressive symptoms were measured.

RESULTS

Treatment-specific stigma was lower for herbal remedy than prescription medication or mental health counseling (p < .01). Whites had higher stigma than African Americans for all treatment modalities. In adjusted analyses, stigma relating to self [AOR 0.43 (0.20–0.95)] and friends and family [AOR 0.42 (0.21–0.88)] was associated with lower acceptability of mental health counseling. Stigma did not account for the lower acceptability of prescription medication among African Americans.

CONCLUSIONS

Treatment associated stigma significantly affects the acceptability of mental health counseling but not prescription medication. Efforts to improve depression treatment utilization might benefit from addressing concerns about stigma of mental health counseling.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge Jason Fu and Brian Shin for their assistance with survey distribution and data entry. This project was supported by funding from the University Research Foundation of the University of Pennsylvania.

Conflict of Interest

None disclosed.

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Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jane L. Givens MD, MSCE.

Additional information

Funding source: University Research Foundation of the University of Pennsylvania

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Givens, J.L., Katz, I.R., Bellamy, S. et al. Stigma and the Acceptability of Depression Treatments Among African Americans and Whites. J GEN INTERN MED 22, 1292–1297 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-007-0276-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-007-0276-3

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