Venciendo la Depresión: A Pilot Study of Telehealth-Delivered Behavioral Activation for Depressed Spanish-Speaking Latinxs

Abstract

Latinxs are substantially impacted by depression. The research literature has documented barriers (e.g., stigma, limited English proficiency, and lack of transportation) contributing to the underutilization of behavioral health services among Spanish-speaking Latinxs (SSLs). Telehealth can be broadly defined as the provision of healthcare information and services through the use of telecommunications technology. Behavioral Activation (BA) has well established empirical support for reducing symptoms of depression among ethnic minority groups. The unprecedent challenges associated with accessing in-person behavioral health services during the COVID-19 pandemic have underscored the need to examine alternate methods for treatment delivery. Thus, the proposed study aimed to conduct a feasibility study to determine the viability of telehealth-delivered BA for SSLs. Twenty-five SSL participants met eligibility criteria and were enrolled in the intervention and 17 participants completed treatment. The majority of participants experienced significant improvements in depressive symptoms and positive affect. These treatment gains were sustained at one-month follow-up. The present study offers promising preliminary data to support the acceptability and feasibility of telehealth-delivered BA, with the potential to lessen barriers to care by offering readily accessible behavioral health services for depressed individuals in underserved communities.