December 18, 2017
Black adolescents may express depression symptoms differently than people from other age or racial groups—something clinicians need to keep in mind when planning treatment—a new study suggests.
“Adolescent depression is a dire public concern in the United States, and even greater concern among black adolescents, where, if left untreated, can disproportionately lead to an escalation of various mental disorders, academic failure, and related issues,” says Wenhau Lu, assistant professor of childhood studies at Rutgers University-Camden.
According to the study’s findings, which the researchers report in the Journal of the Society for Social Work and Research, black adolescents experiencing depressive symptoms tend to express their depressed feelings by complaining about conflicts with others and physical pains.
“When assessing and treating black adolescents’ depression, clinicians need to pay particular attention to their complaints about interpersonal struggles and physical discomfort,” Lu says. “Treatments such as interpersonal psychotherapy may work better for this population.”
Source: Futurity
