European Psychiatry - Volume 33 - March 2016

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S496 24th European Congress of Psychiatry / European Psychiatry 33S (2016) S349–S805
Objective The study examined how cultural factors associate
with the report of depressive and somatic symptoms among Chi-
nese American and European American college students.
Methods Data were collected from 205 Chinese American and
316 European American colleges students using online question-
naires.
Results Independent t-tests revealed no ethnic differences in
depression scores betweenChinese and EuropeanAmericans. How-
ever, European Americans surprisingly reported more somatic
symptoms than Chinese Americans. Post-hoc analyses revealed
that this difference was largely due to the high report of somatic
symptoms among European American females. When somatic
symptoms and gender were controlled for, an ethnic difference
in depression emerged with Chinese Americans reporting higher
scores than European Americans. As hypothesized, this ethnic dif-
ference was not longer significant when the culturally relevant
psychological variables were included in the regression.
Conclusions This study did not find evidence for somatiza-
tion among Chinese Americans and suggested that depression
differences could be explained by examining culturally salient
constructs. Clinical implications include the reduction of health dis-
parities in accessing and receiving quality depression treatment
and provision of culturally sensitive treatments for depression.
Disclosure of interest The authors have not supplied their decla-
ration of competing interest.
EV461
Perceptions of health professionals
treating psychosis in South Asians to
develop the culturally adapted
relatives education and coping toolkit
(CA-REACT)
A. Karbhari ∗ utaaya Syed ikha atel
D. Edge obban Husain arbhari
1 Blackburn, United Kingdom
2 University of Manchester, Institute of Brain Behaviour and Mental
Health, Manchester, United Kingdom
3 Lancashire Care NHS Foundation trust, Research and Development,
Preston, United Kingdom
4 Harvey House Social Enterprise, Research, Bury, United Kingdom
5 University of Manchester, Institute of Brain Behavious and mental
health, Manchester, United Kingdom
6 LCFT, Research and Innovation, Preston, United Kingdom
∗ Corresponding author.
Background Reports indicate the incidence and prevalence of
psychotic disorders, suicide, and self-harm are on the rise among
South Asians. NICE guidelines for schizophrenia recommend that
each service user should be offered cognitive behavior therapy and
family intervention. Despite knowledge about the high incidence
and prevalence of psychosis among British SouthAsian in theUK, no
psychological intervention to our knowledge has been developed
for this population segment.
Objective To conduct individual interviews with the health pro-
fessionals to do explore views on the CA-REACT.
Aim To identify barriers that health care professionals encounter
in their bid to provide care to South Asian families who are caring
for individuals suffering from psychosis.
Method In-depth interviews were conducted with 10 expe-
rienced health professionals. Interview transcripts were then
analysed using thematic analysis.
Results The results of the study suggest that health professionals
generally acknowledge that there is a deficit in appropriate ser-
vices for supporting and engaging carers of South Asian patients
suffering from psychosis. They recognise the need to adapt services
in order to offer more effective and culturally-sensitive services.
Results indicated that adaptation of the current family interven-
tions is likely to meet the needs of families of South Asian service
users.
Conclusion The results indicate a need for culturally sensitive
family intervention (FI) services as well as more education on psy-
chosis for British South Asian families. There is a need for training
professionals in working across cultures, as well as addressing lan-
guage barriers and social stigmas.
Disclosure of interest The authors have not supplied their decla-
ration of competing interest.
EV462
Challenges to employment among
latino population with severe mental
illness
M. O’Connell , M. Costa , A. Gonzalez , G. Damio , K. Ruiz ,
L. León-Quismondo ∗, L. Davidson
1 Yale Program for Recovery and Community Health, Yale School of
Medicine, New Haven-Connecticut, USA
2 Hispanic Health Council, Department of Psychiatry,
Hartford-Connecticut, USA
3 “Principe de Asturias” University Hospital, Department of
Psychiatry, Alcalá de Henares-Madrid, Spain
∗ Corresponding author.
Introduction Unemployment is common in persons with severe
mental illness (SMI) and more in Latino population. Department
of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) of Connecticut
offers a supported employment (SE) Program to help clients get
competitive work in integrated settings with nondisabled workers
in the community.
Objective Capture perspectives of key informant groups to
describe barriers for linking Latinos with SMI to employment and
adapt SE Services for subpopulations.
Method Four focus groupswere conducted (employment special-
ists, case managers and peer support counselors/employers/two
with clients-one in Spanish and other in English). They were con-
ducted during January-February 2015, 70–90minutes each one. A
question guidewas developed for each group. Participants per focus
group ranged from 3–10, voluntarily. Two new questionnaires
to the baseline pack were developed: challenges to Employment
Assessment–provider and client version.
Results Thirty individuals participated. Several barriers to
employment were reported. Clients and staff reported criminal
record, lack of employment history and lack of motivation. Staff
described client hygiene, mental status, physical health, substance
abuse and discrimination. Clients, staff and employers reported lan-
guage barrier for Latinos who don’t speak English. Non-adherence
to medication was reported by clients and employers. About
Spanish-Speaking Latinos withmental illness, medication, discrim-
ination, previous abuse by employers, inappropriate employment,
difficulties of the job interview and computer skills appeared as
challenges. English-Speaking Latinos with mental illness identi-
fied transport, stability, support, keeping apartment and financial
needs.
Conclusions Focus groups can help in knowledge about the diver-
sity of Latino communities to improve SE Services and outcomes for
Latinos.
Disclosure of interest The authors have not supplied their decla-
ration of competing interest.