Is a major public health concern leading to increased disability, morbidity, and risk of suicide (Blazer, 2002). Depression has been identified as the most prevalent psychiatric diagnosis among the elderly (Liebowitz et al., 1997). In 2004, approximately 17 of women and 11 of men aged 65 and older had clinically relevant depressive symptoms (Federal Interagency Forum, 2006). By 2030, the number of older adults with depression is expected to nearly double the current number (Jeste, Alexopolous, Bartels, 1999) and the World Health Organization has projected that depression will be the leading cause of disability in all countries by 2020 (Murray Lopez, 1996). Older adults are particularly vulnerable to the effects of depression (Sirey, Bruce, Alexopoulous, 2005). Although depression is more prevalent among younger adults, older adults with depression are less likely to be identified and treated. In particular, AfricanAmerican older adults with depression are less likely than their White counterparts to receive an appropriate diagnosis (Gallo, Cooper-Patrick, Lesikar, 1998) or to receive empirically supported treatments for depression (Wang, Berglund, Kessler, 2000; Young, Klap, Sherbourne, 2001), African-American older adults suffer more psychological distress than their White counterparts due to their exposure to and experiences with racism, discrimination, prejudice, poverty, and violence (Brown, 2003; DHHS, 2001: Outlaw, 1993: Williams, Neighbors, Jackson, 2003); and they tend to have fewer psychological, social, and financial resources for coping with this stress than their White counterparts (Choi Gonzales, 2005). Despite risk of psychiatric disorders due to these socio-cultural and environmental factors, prevalence rates of depression among African-American elders tend to be equal to or slightly less than their White counterparts (Blazer, Landerman, Hays, Simonsick, Saunders, 1998: Gallo et al., 1998), while some studies suggest only slightly higher rates of depression (Blazer, Hughes, George, 1997). However, African-American elders are significantly less likely to seek mental health treatment (Conner et al., 2010): suggesting that they may be utilizing informal strategies to cope with their psychological distress and depressive symptoms. Disparities in treatment engagement and AZD-8835 cost retention Disparitis in treatment engagement and retention for depressed older adults from all racial backgrounds are discouraging. Of the 35 million people in the US over the age of 65, it is estimated that half are in need of mental health services, yet fewer than 20 actually receive treatment (Comer, 2004). In fact, older adults seek mental health treatment less than any other adult age group (Bartels et al., 2004). When given a choice between psychotherapy and CPI-455 chemical information pharmacotherapy, older adults tend to express a preference for psychotherapy (Gum, Arean, Hunkeler, 2006). However, when older adults receive a referral to psychotherapy for mental health treatment, they are not likely to follow up and make an appointment (Watts et al., 2002), suggesting that there are significant barriers deterring older adults from initiating and engaging in even their preferred method of mental health treatment. Similar disparities are found for African-Americans and African-American elders in particular. African-Americans seek treatment at half the rate of their White counterparts (Brown Palenchar, 2004; DHHS, 1999). African-Americans attend fewer sess.Is a major public health concern leading to increased disability, morbidity, and risk of suicide (Blazer, 2002). Depression has been identified as the most prevalent psychiatric diagnosis among the elderly (Liebowitz et al., 1997). In 2004, approximately 17 of women and 11 of men aged 65 and older had clinically relevant depressive symptoms (Federal Interagency Forum, 2006). By 2030, the number of older adults with depression is expected to nearly double the current number (Jeste, Alexopolous, Bartels, 1999) and the World Health Organization has projected that depression will be the leading cause of disability in all countries by 2020 (Murray Lopez, 1996). Older adults are particularly vulnerable to the effects of depression (Sirey, Bruce, Alexopoulous, 2005). Although depression is more prevalent among younger adults, older adults with depression are less likely to be identified and treated. In particular, AfricanAmerican older adults with depression are less likely than their White counterparts to receive an appropriate diagnosis (Gallo, Cooper-Patrick, Lesikar, 1998) or to receive empirically supported treatments for depression (Wang, Berglund, Kessler, 2000; Young, Klap, Sherbourne, 2001), African-American older adults suffer more psychological distress than their White counterparts due to their exposure to and experiences with racism, discrimination, prejudice, poverty, and violence (Brown, 2003; DHHS, 2001: Outlaw, 1993: Williams, Neighbors, Jackson, 2003); and they tend to have fewer psychological, social, and financial resources for coping with this stress than their White counterparts (Choi Gonzales, 2005). Despite risk of psychiatric disorders due to these socio-cultural and environmental factors, prevalence rates of depression among African-American elders tend to be equal to or slightly less than their White counterparts (Blazer, Landerman, Hays, Simonsick, Saunders, 1998: Gallo et al., 1998), while some studies suggest only slightly higher rates of depression (Blazer, Hughes, George, 1997). However, African-American elders are significantly less likely to seek mental health treatment (Conner et al., 2010): suggesting that they may be utilizing informal strategies to cope with their psychological distress and depressive symptoms. Disparities in treatment engagement and retention Disparitis in treatment engagement and retention for depressed older adults from all racial backgrounds are discouraging. Of the 35 million people in the US over the age of 65, it is estimated that half are in need of mental health services, yet fewer than 20 actually receive treatment (Comer, 2004). In fact, older adults seek mental health treatment less than any other adult age group (Bartels et al., 2004). When given a choice between psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy, older adults tend to express a preference for psychotherapy (Gum, Arean, Hunkeler, 2006). However, when older adults receive a referral to psychotherapy for mental health treatment, they are not likely to follow up and make an appointment (Watts et al., 2002), suggesting that there are significant barriers deterring older adults from initiating and engaging in even their preferred method of mental health treatment. Similar disparities are found for African-Americans and African-American elders in particular. African-Americans seek treatment at half the rate of their White counterparts (Brown Palenchar, 2004; DHHS, 1999). African-Americans attend fewer sess.
