title: A comparative study of the economic and social functioning of Vietnamese-Australians with low English proficiency living with psychotic illness.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Because national surveys of people living with psychotic disorders tend to exclude people with low English proficiency (LEP), little is known of their economic and social functioning. Culturally influenced explanatory models may result in delayed presentation and poorer functioning.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The study aimed to compare the functioning of LEP Vietnamese-Australian and Australian-born patients with psychosis and to investigate the Vietnamese-Australians' pathways to care.
  
  
  METHODS
  In all, 19 LEP Vietnamese-Australians, previously excluded from the Australian Survey of High Impact Psychosis (SHIP), were matched with 15 Australian-born controls, and interviewed by a Vietnamese bilingual mental health professional using the SHIP Interview Schedule.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The Vietnamese-Australian patients were significantly more likely to live with family, rate spirituality as important and participate in community rehabilitation programs. Their work, social and independent functioning, was better than the controls. The groups did not differ in mental health services received and satisfaction with services. Although half of Vietnamese-Australians attributed mental illness to supernatural, among other causes, none had consulted traditional healers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite LEP, Vietnamese-Australians with psychosis showed comparable or better functioning than Australian-born patients. Further investigation is recommended into LEP patients' clinical and social recovery and the role of language communities' support networks.
authors: Transcultural Psychology Consultant, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
authors: Yvonne
authors: Y
authors: Stolk
authors: St Vincent's Mental Health, Fitzroy, VIC, Australia Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia.
authors: Katherine
authors: K
authors: Sevar
authors: St Vincent's Mental Health, Fitzroy, VIC, Australia Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia.
authors: Nga
authors: N
authors: Tran
authors: St Vincent's Mental Health, Fitzroy, VIC, Australia Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia.
authors: Serafino G
authors: SG
authors: Mancuso
authors: St Vincent's Mental Health, Fitzroy, VIC, Australia.
authors: Prem
authors: P
authors: Chopra
authors: St Vincent's Mental Health, Fitzroy, VIC, Australia Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia Department of Psychiatry, School of Psychiatry and Neurosciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia Department of Psychiatry, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa Cardiovascular Research Center, Faculty of Health Sciences, Australian Catholic University, Fitzroy, VIC, Australia david.castle@svhm.org.au.
authors: David
authors: D
authors: Castle
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D054521:Cultural Competency; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007802:Language; D008297:Male; D008605:Mental Health Services; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D012917:Social Adjustment; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014744:Vietnam / Q000208:ethnology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Psychosis; Vietnamese; functioning; low English proficiency; pathway