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

Abstract

Individuals with Attenuated Psychosis Syndromes (APS) tend to show alterations in clinical, psychosocial, and neurocognitive functioning, as well as differences or changes in brain structure compared to comparison controls. As a result, an interest has been generated in intervening in APS because, in many cases, it is a syndrome that can be prospectively identified just prior to florid psychosis. Early intervention has the potential to prevent or mitigate suffering for individuals and families, as well as losses in social and educational/role functioning that typically accompany the development of psychotic illness. This chapter presents demographic information of Asian Americans, barriers and pathways to services, culturally specific symptoms, and culturally informed assessment and intervention strategies for mental illness in general and APS in particular. It supports these perspectives by a case illustration of an Asian American youth with APS. It should be noted that there is a paucity of research on APS among Asian American populations; thus, some sections may address mental illness in general in Asian American populations. Where data exist, effort is made to include APS studies. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)