African American Knowledge Optimized for Mindfully Healthy Adolescents

Treatment Engagement in Psychiatric Clinical Research and Care for Depressed African American Adolescents

The purpose of this study was to better understand how African American families identify and treat emotional and behavioral concerns associated with depression in their adolescent youth. The goals of the study included (a) identifying factors associated with participation in psychiatric research and treatment and (b) developing an intervention to increase participation in psychiatric research and treatment.

The aim of this study was to obtain an in-depth understanding of African Americans' perceptions of barriers to adolescent and family engagement in psychiatric treatment and research utilizing a mixed methods approach in two Phases. Phase I consisted of data collected via surveys, focus groups and individual interviews with African American adults and youth. The data generated in Phase I provided a foundation for the domains incorporated into manual development and therapist training procedures of the subsequent intervention phase of the project (Phase II).

After the research team developed the depression treatment engagement intervention, the intervention was pilot tested in a sample of depressed African American youth and families (Phase II)

Inclusion Criteria:

• Persons who self-identify as Black or African American
• Adolescents aged 11 to 17 at the time of recruitment
• Adult parents
• Parent consent and adolescent assent
• Demonstrated cognitive ability to understand participation

Exclusion Criteria:

• Diminished capacity to participate