Engaging Mothers With Depressive Symptoms in Care: Results of a Randomized Controlled Trial in Head Start

What is it about?

We sought to determine whether a community-based program - Problem Solving Education - that focuses on maternal depression prevention can also help women with persistent depressive symptoms engage with formal mental health care. We conducted a randomized clinical trial of 230 low-income mothers in Head Start. The rate of engagement with specialty services over time significantly favored the intervention group. This finding of increased engagement over time occurred specifically among the subgroup of women with persistent depressive symptoms.

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