Acute paranoid disorder in a Southeast Asian refugee

Effects of acculturation on the MMPI-2 scores of Asian American students

The use of the MMPI-2 (Butcher, Dahlstron, Graham, Tellegen, & Kaemmer, 1989) with minorities has been questioned due to potential misinterpretations related to cultural differences. This study examined acculturative differences among Asian American college students and their scores on the validity and clinical scales. A sample of Asian American students (n = 90) was assigned to groups based on acculturation level. Analysis of variance tests indicated that low-acculturated, bicultural, and high-acculturated Asian Americans yielded different profiles. Compared to a matched White student sample, low-acculturated Asian Americans scored significantly higher on 9 scales, and bicultural Asian Americans had 6 significantly different scores. These differences were clinically interpretable with a range from 6.46 to 21.65 T-score points. High-acculturated Asian Americans did not differ from Whites. Cultural variables to be considered when interpreting Asian American profiles are discussed.

Paranoid symptoms and disorders among 100 Hmong refugees: a longitudinal study

Paranoid disorder has been recognized as a special problem among migrants in general, and refugees in particular. Controversy exists about whether vulnerability to paranoia is a pre-emigration or postmigration phenomenon, and whether paranoia is caused by genetic or organic factors, victimization, or the stress of acculturation. Information is limited on the distribution of paranoid symptoms among refugees. The course of paranoid symptoms in refugees is unknown. Findings reveal that: most refugees have no or mild paranoid symptoms (suspiciousness or mistrust); a small number have severe symptoms (ideas of reference, paranoid delusions or paranoid hallucinations); paranoid symptoms (unlike depressive symptoms) tend to remain at about the same level over several years; and the prevalence and incidence of paranoid disorders among refugees are high compared with other groups.