Attenuated Psychosis Syndromes Among Asian American Youth and Young Adults: A Culturally Relevant Case Illustration Approach

Asian Americans have been found to have a longer duration of untreated psychosis than other ethnic groups in the United States. Their symptom manifestations and interventions may be culturally rooted. Asian American families tend to underutilize mental health services, have less favorable help-seeking attitudes than their White counterparts, and terminate services prematurely. This chapter will explore different factors that may hinder Asian American families from seeking help for their child in a timely and consistent manner. Culturally relevant symptoms and intervention strategies for APS among Asian American populations will be discussed. A case will also be presented to illustrate some of the intricacies, both culturally and symptomatically, when working with Asian American youth who have APS. Finally, implications for research and treatment will be discussed.