Lorena Ho

Abstract

Schizophrenia is a disorder that appears across cultures, typically creating a tremendous amount of suffering and loss for both the individual diagnosed, and his or her family. While psychosocial family treatment (along with medication) has proved thus far to be the most promising treatment for schizophrenia in Western cultures, it has yet to be proven effective with ethnocultural minority groups. Furthermore, literature shows that Western treatments for schizophrenia cannot be uniformly applied to ethnocultural minority groups with the expectation of similar results. In the United States, Asian Americans, and specifically Chinese Americans, continue to underutilize mental health services for schizophrenia, yet not for the lack of need. A significant reason for underutilization is the lack of culturally appropriate treatments and culturally competent clinicians. This dissertation specifically addresses the issues and concerns that arise out of the development of schizophrenia in a Chinese American family member and seeks to propose culturally congruent recommendations for practitioners who may find themselves working with Chinese American families. Through a review of the literature, treatments for schizophrenia are identified; Asian/Asian American and Chinese/Chinese American values and beliefs about the family and mental illness are discussed; existing treatments are juxtaposed with the aforementioned values and beliefs; and clinical considerations for rapport-building, assessment, and treatment of schizophrenia within a Chinese American family are discussed.

Library of Congress Subject Headings

Chinese Americans -- Mental health; Schizophrenia -- Treatment; Dissertations (PsyD) -- Psychology

Date of Award

2011

School Affiliation

Graduate School of Education and Psychology

Department/Program

Psychology

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctorate

Faculty Advisor

Asamen, Joy K.;

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