Depression and African Americans: Developing a Culturally Competent Minority Depression and Ways of Coping Scale

Authors: Kennedy BR*

DOI: 10.23880/phoa-16000168

Volume 5, Issue 1

Abstract

Often, African Americans are misdiagnosed and under-treated in the conventional healthcare system. Research studies have reported the symptoms of depression among African Americans are inconsistent with the DSM-V. Previous Depression scales have not been culturally competent reflecting the depression symptoms of African Americans. The researcher developed a depression scale to reflect the racism and psychosocial factors contributing to depression in African Americans. In the future, the researcher will use the revised depression scale on African Americans to further investigate the symptoms of depression in African Americans. If depression is adequately identified in African Americans, health providers can accurately diagnose depression and provide culturally competent treatment.

Keywords: African Americans; Depression; Depression Scale; Ways of Coping; Cultural Competence

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