FEMALE DOCTORAL OR MASTER'S LEVEL STUDENTS:

You have an opportunity to replicate or facilitate a research study on reducing depression in women of color.

WHY STUDY DEPRESSION?

Depression ranks as the major mental health problem in the world.

Growing numbers of depressed women have increased medical costs due to their repeated visits to physicians for psychosomatic complaints, chemical dependency and psychiatric hospitalizations after suicide attempts.

Women of color develop ailments and illnesses much more frequently than white women. Of the 16 leading causes of death in women, the mortality rate of black women surpasses that of white women in 13 of those 16 causes.

Many women of color live in poverty and struggle to care for their children and extended families without financial security.

Education and employment are seriously limited by discriminatory practices in American society.

Children of depressed women are high users of psychiatric treatment centers.

NEED FOR RESEARCH

Few studies have been published on the prevalence and causes of depression in women of color--these are desperately needed to document and alleviate the problems.

Your study may receive priority funding because so little data exists.

GOALS OF INSIGHT PROGRAM

The goal of the INSIGHT Program is to reduce depression in women by a cognitive behavioral group therapy, helping them to gain awareness of their own strengths, become positive thinkers with increased self-esteem and self-energy.

Empowering women of color to become effective communicators will benefit not only themselves, but their families and all of society as well.

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

1. Gordon, V., Matwychuk, A., Sachs, E.G., & Canedy, B. (1988). A 3-Year Follow-Up of a Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy Intervention. Archives of Psychiatric Nursing. 2, (4), 218-226.
2. Gordon, V. & Gordon, E. (1987). Reducing depression in women: Nursing research replicated in Great Britain. Archives of Psychiatric Nursing. 2(1), 139-161.
3. Gordon, V., & Ledray, L. (1986). Growth-support intervention for the treatment of women in middle years. Western Journal of Nursing Research. 8(3). 263-283.
4. Gordon, V. & Ledray, L. (1985). Depression in women: The challenge of treatment and prevention. Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services. 23(1), 26-34.
5. Gordon, V. (1986). Divorce and depression in women. Chapter 21 in Women in Health and Illness. Martinson, I. and Kjervik, D. (Eds ) Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders, 231-243.
6. Gordon, V. (1984). Women and Suicide. Chapter 5 in Suicide and the Life Cycle. Pfeffer, C. & Berman, A. (Eds.). American Association of Suicidology. New York. 122-123.
7. Gordon, V. (1982). Depressed Women on South East Asia: Life in America, in Asian and Pacific American Experiences: Women's Perspectives. Nobuya Tsuchida (ed.). Minneapolis, MN: U of M Press 206-215.

CURRENT INSIGHT REFERENCES

1. Limandri, Barbara J., & May, Barbara A., (2002) Psychoeducational intervention to enhance self-efficacy of abused women. Communicating Nursing Research 35 (10) p.261.
2. Adams, P. (June 2000) INSIGHT: A mental health prevention intervention. Nursing Clinics of North America 35 (2) pp. 329-338.
3. Zust, B. (April 2000) Effect of cognitive therapy on depression in rural battered women. Archives of Psychiatric Nursing 14 (2) pp. 51-63.
4. Gordon, V., & Sumner, J. (March/April 2000) Depression: Holistic Women's Program offers group approach. Viewpoint: American Academy of Ambulatory Care Nursing 22 (2) pp. 3-6.
5. Peden, A. (April 2000) Negative thoughts of women with depression. Journal of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association 6 (2) pp. 41-48.
6. Mynatt, S. (May 1999) Effectiveness of intervention into substance abuse disorders in women with comorbid depression. Journal of Psychosocial Nursing 37 (5) pp. 16-29.
7. Sorenson, D. (2003). Healing tramatizing provider interactions among women through short-term therapy. Archives of Psychiatric Nursing, 17 (6). 259-269
8. Zust, B. (2006) Meaning of INSIGHT participation among women who have experienced intimate partner violence. Issues of Mental Health Nursing, 27 (7). 775-796
9. Mynatt, S., Wicks, M. & Bolden, L. (in press 2007) Pilot study of INSIGHT in African American women. Archives of Psychiatric Nursing.
10. Wicks, M., Bolden, L., Mynatt, S., Rice, M. & Acchairdo, S., (in press 2007) INSIGHT, with American African facilitators caring for chronic hemodialysis recipients, potentially prevents and treats depressive and anxiety symptoms in black womrn. Nephrology Nursing, Nov-Dec. issue.
11. Hassouneh, D., & Gordon, V., (2007). INSIGHT-WPD a Cognitive-Behavioural Group Intervention for Women with Physical Disabilities who Experience Depression. Grant funded by National Institute of Disability and Rehabilitation Research.

College women are more in need of counseling services than ever before. Women students today face economic pressures for achievement, difficult choices in sexual relationships, the challenge of trying to find their place in a society that undervalues women, and constant pressure from a culture which promotes stereotypical female images. Stress-related problems, which can lead to serious depression and anxiety, are the most frequent reason for college women to seek counseling.

At the same time, in most colleges and universities, funding for therapy professionals is limited. To prevent more serious problems, it is vital that college counseling centers be able to offer group therapy programs which are brief, effective, and evidence-based. Cognitive therapy programs have been well-researched and documented to be effective in preventing and treating depression and anxiety.

INSIGHT is an ideal research-based program for both undergraduate and graduate students. These women are particularly well-suited for a group structured like a class, which is designed to meet on a weekly basis during the semester. These bright, motivated students who are used to coursework and reading, which makes this format more acceptable and less threatening than the traditional process-oriented therapy. College women profit from the structured format, which helps them feel secure as well as from the support offered.

Groups led in a college setting are easy to market through the university web page and various outreach programs. Attrition, which can be a problem in some Counseling Center groups, is not an issue because a signed contract is used in which participants agree to attend each session.

Appropriate referrals for the group include women who are suffering from mild to moderate depression and/or anxiety, as well as highly-stressed women who are at risk for depression or anxiety. Both undergraduate and graduate students participate in each group, and some may be taking medication. Potential group members are interviewed initially to assess their readiness for the program, during which the group structure and content are discussed. College women who are in distress usually recognize immediately that the topics covered would be of benefit to them and and eager to participate.

Dr. Barbara Jones Warren, PhD, APRN-BC Associate Professor The Ohio State University, College of Nursing Columbus, Ohio I really do believe that the INSIGHT Program has great advantages for women who are depressed. I think the program works for several reasons. It is a systematically taught and implemented approach that utilizes group therapy principles. In addition, women gain new "insights" regarding their depression and the management of it in the context of their life experiences and social support systems. The program follows a facilitative format that is grounded in the use of sound research principles regarding cognitive therapy. Finally, all of these advantages relate to the components that nursing therapists and clinicians utilize within their practice settings. Hence, this makes the INSIGHT Program more "user friendly" and meaningful to them as well as the women that they work in conjunction with.