title: Understanding clinician perception of common presentations in South Asians seeking mental health treatment and determining barriers and facilitators to treatment.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Little is known about the presentation of mental health symptoms among South Asians living in the US.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To explore mental health symptom presentation in South Asians in the US and to identify facilitators and barriers to treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Focus group study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Four focus groups were conducted with 7-8 participants in each group. All participants (N = 29) were clinicians who had been involved in the care of South Asian patients with emotional problems and/or mental illness in the US.
  
  
  METHODS
  Qualitative content analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Key themes identified included: generational differences in symptom presentation, stress was the most common symptom for younger South Asians (<40 years of age), while major mental illnesses such as severe depression, psychosis and anxiety disorder were the primary symptoms for older South Asians (>40 years of age). Substance abuse and verbal/physical/sexual abuse were not uncommon but were often not reported spontaneously. Stigma and denial of mental illness were identified as major barriers to treatment. Facilitators for treatment included use of a medical model and conducting systematic but patient-centered evaluations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  South Asians living in the US present with a variety of mental health symptoms ranging from stress associated with acculturation to major mental illnesses. Facilitating the evaluation and treatment of South Asians with mental illness requires sensitivity to cultural issues and use of creative solutions to overcome barriers to treatment.
authors: Maryland/DC Chapter of the IndoAmerican Psychiatric Association, United States; Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, United States. Electronic address: pramitrastogi@gmail.com.
authors: Pramit
authors: P
authors: Rastogi
authors: Maryland/DC Chapter of the IndoAmerican Psychiatric Association, United States; Sheppard Pratt Hospital, University of Maryland, United States.
authors: Sunil
authors: S
authors: Khushalani
authors: Maryland/DC Chapter of the IndoAmerican Psychiatric Association, United States; Counselors Helping (South) Asian Indians, Inc. (CHAI), United States.
authors: Swaran
authors: S
authors: Dhawan
authors: Maryland/DC Chapter of the IndoAmerican Psychiatric Association, United States; Sheppard Pratt Hospital, University of Maryland, United States.
authors: Joshana
authors: J
authors: Goga
authors: Maryland/DC Chapter of the IndoAmerican Psychiatric Association, United States.
authors: Naveena
authors: N
authors: Hemanth
authors: Maryland/DC Chapter of the IndoAmerican Psychiatric Association, United States; Counselors Helping (South) Asian Indians, Inc. (CHAI), United States.
authors: Razia
authors: R
authors: Kosi
authors: Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, United States.
authors: Rashmi K
authors: RK
authors: Sharma
authors: Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, United States.
authors: Betty S
authors: BS
authors: Black
authors: Maryland/DC Chapter of the IndoAmerican Psychiatric Association, United States; Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, United States.
authors: Geetha
authors: G
authors: Jayaram
authors: Maryland/DC Chapter of the IndoAmerican Psychiatric Association, United States; Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, United States.
authors: Vani
authors: V
authors: Rao
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001211:Asia, Western; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D008603:Mental Health; D008605:Mental Health Services; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D012737:Sex Factors; D014481:United States; D044465:White People
keywords: Cross cultural psychiatry; Focus group; Helicopter parents; South Asian Americans