State of the Science: Culturally Adapted Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Asian Americans

Asian Americans are proportionately the fastest-growing racial group in the United States yet remain among the least likely to seek mental health services, often facing significant cultural and structural barriers. This state-of-the-science review synthesizes existing research on culturally adapted psychotherapy, with a focus on cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for Asian American populations. Meta-analytic findings suggest that culturally adapted interventions, particularly those that utilize deep structural adaptations (e.g., those that incorporate cultural values, beliefs and worldviews), yield improved treatment outcomes compared to standard approaches or surface structure adaptations (e.g., more superficial modifications such as ethnic and linguistic match). However, few studies have examined culturally adapted CBT (CA-CBT) specifically for Asian Americans and much more work needs to be done. Future research needs to address several limitations and recommendations for future research are provided. Advancing CA-CBT is crucial for reducing health disparities and improving mental health outcomes by offering culturally relevant and effective services that may be more effective for diverse and underserved populations.