Psychiatric problems among adolescent Southeast Asian refugees. A descriptive study.

When first faced with evaluating and/or treating a Southeast Asian adolescent psychiatric patient, the American therapist may be overwhelmed by the vast cultural differences. We have reviewed 28 cases of adolescents encountered in a psychiatric setting in order to provide a description of their presenting complaints and problems. Diagnostic categories and demographic characteristics are described, as well as current areas of needs for adolescent psychiatric patients from Southeast Asia.