Trauma Informed and Culturally Responsive Interviewing with Cambodian American Patients A Narrative Review

<title>Abstract</title> <p> <bold>Background</bold> Cambodian Americans continue to experience significant mental health disparities associated with genocide-related trauma, forced migration, intergenerational trauma, and ongoing structural barriers to care. Although substantial literature has documented elevated rates of post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, and somatic distress among Cambodian refugees and their descendants, fewer studies have examined how these experiences influence clinical communication and healthcare education. <bold>Methods</bold> A narrative literature review was conducted using PubMed and Google Scholar to identify literature related to Cambodian American mental health, cultural concepts of distress, refugee trauma, barriers to care, and culturally responsive communication. Sources were analyzed using a thematic narrative synthesis approach, with themes selected based on their relevance to Cambodian American mental health experiences and implications for healthcare communication. <bold>Results</bold> Four major themes emerged from the literature: (1) historical and intergenerational trauma, (2) cultural concepts of distress and mental illness, (3) barriers to mental healthcare, and (4) clinical communication and interviewing implications. Findings suggest that psychological distress is frequently expressed through somatic symptoms, culturally specific idioms of distress, spiritual frameworks, and indirect forms of emotional communication. Language barriers, stigma, mistrust of institutions, and structural inequities continue to affect healthcare engagement and service utilization. These findings informed the development of a practical trauma-informed and culturally responsive communication guide for healthcare professionals. <bold>Conclusions</bold> Cambodian American mental health experiences are shaped by the intersection of historical trauma, cultural beliefs, migration experiences, and structural conditions that influence clinical encounters. The accompanying communication guide translates these findings into practical interviewing strategies intended to support cultural humility, trauma-informed care, and patient-centered communication. Although developed for Cambodian American populations, the framework may have broader relevance for healthcare professionals working with refugee, immigrant, and trauma-affected communities. </p>