Evaluating the Impact of a Cognitive-Behavioral Intervention with Depressed Latinas: A Preliminary Report

A 12-session Cognitive-Behavioral Treatment (CBT) protocol for depression developed at San Francisco General Hospital was pilot tested with Latinas in New York City. Viability of the protocol and indication of treatment efficacy was sought as a rationale for more controlled investigation of the intervention on Latino urban populations in theNortheast. The pre-and post-treatment BDI scores for all five participants declined an average of 12 points (95% CI: [3, 21], p < 0.01). Given the lack of control group and small sample size, these findings must be interpreted with caution. Nevertheless, the significant before-after improvement is consistent with previous findings regarding this protocol, and the potential effectiveness of this particular treatment among this population warrantsmore rigorous examination. Furthermore, the feasibility of social workers evaluating the impact of their interventions is demonstrated. (C) 2005 by The Haworth Press, Inc. All rights reserved.