published in 1997, Culture and Psychopathology: A Guide To Clinical Assessment is a valuable contribution to the field of Psychiatry/Clinical Psychology.

Since the first edition of Culture and Psychopathology was published, a growing national and international interest in how culture impacts mental disorders and how psychopathology is influenced by culture has become a rising field of focus. In this extensive revision, chapters have been updated with new material and now incorporate the DSM-5’s classification system of mental disorders. This book is international in scope, not focusing on specific cultural groups, but rather how the cultural context affects the presentation and the process of assessment of different types of psychopathology. This edition highlights case studies and practical guidelines to support clinicians who assess patients of any cultural background.

Building on their previous works about cultural competency in clinical areas and in psychotherapy, the editors have created in this volume an exceptional and entirely new approach to understanding and acquiring cultural competency. Instead of examining populations of different ethnic groups, particularly minority groups (as is typical in the literature), this illuminating volume examines cultural issues as applied to the practice of virtually every psychiatric service (e.g., inpatient, outpatient, consultation-liaison, pain management, and emergency) and specialty (e.g., child and adolescent, geriatric, addiction, and forensic psychiatry). Concluding chapters discuss cultural factors in psychopharmacology and psychotherapy. Thirteen distinguished contributors bring these issues to life with numerous case vignettes in all 11 chapters. The foundation for this breakthrough approach rests on Culture -- The unique behavior patterns and lifestyle that encompass a set of views, beliefs, values, and attitudes shared by a group of people that distinguish it from other groups. Culture and people influence each other reciprocally and interactionally -- on a conscious or unconscious level. Cultural competence -- Clinicians need to master cultural sensitivity, knowledge, and empathy; they need to be flexible, and they need to be skilled in culturally relevant doctor-patient relationships and interactions and to know how to use these elements therapeutically. The critical importance of cultural competence -- Clinicians typically work in multiethnic-cultural societies, providing care for patients of diverse backgrounds. For this reason, virtually all clinical practice can be seen as transcultural. Even when clinicians treat patients who share cultural backgrounds similar to their own, it is inevitable that some differences exist. Further, in the medical setting, three types of culture are present: the culture of the patient, the culture of the physician, and the medical culture in which the clinical work is practiced. Understanding these three cultural dimensions is essential to comprehending and carrying out culturally competent clinical work. This practical and innovative guide -- designed to help mental health care professionals meet the new requirements for cultural competence in clinical work -- will find a welcoming audience among students, residents, educators, and clinicians everywhere.

Cultural diversity has always been a fact of life, nowhere more so than in the unique melting pot of U.S. society. Respecting and understanding that diversity is an important -- and challenging -- goals. Culture and Psychotherapy: A Guide to Clinical Practice brings us closer to that goal by offering a fresh perspective on how to bring an understanding of cultural diversity to the practice of psychotherapy to improve treatment outcomes. This remarkable work presents the nuts and bolts of incorporating culture into therapy, in a way that is immediately useful and practical. Illustrated by numerous case studies that demonstrate issues, techniques, and recommendations, the topics in this wide-ranging volume focus not on specific race or ethnicity but instead on culture. Introduction -- Summarizes the influence of culture (an abstract concept defined as an entity apart from race, ethnicity, or minority) on the practice and process of psychotherapy while offering a broadened definition of psychotherapy as a special practice involving a designated healer (or therapist) and identified client (or patient) to solve a client's problem or promote a client's mental health Case Presentations and Analysis -- Illustrates distinctive cultural issues and overtones within psychotherapy, such as the traditional Japanese respect for authority figures, the Native American concept of spirit songs, the clash of modern values with traditional Islamic codes, and the effects of the conflict between Eastern values of dependence and group harmony and Western values of independence and autonomy Specific Issues in Therapy -- Discusses lessons from folk healing, the cultural aspects of the therapist-patient relationship, and the giving and receiving of medication as part of therapy Treating Special Populations -- Presents issues and trauma faced by African Americans, Hispanic veterans, Southeast Asian refugees, adolescents, and the ethnic minority elderly Special Models of Therapy -- Shows the interplay between cultural issues and specific models of therapy, including marital therapy for intercultural couples and group therapy with multiethnic members The relevance of cultural diversity will only grow stronger in the coming years as our definition of community expands to embrace global -- not just local -- issues. With its balanced combination of clinical guidance and conceptual discussion highlighted by fascinating case studies, this volume, authored by national and international experts, offers psychotherapists, psychiatrists, psychologists, psychiatric residents, psychiatric nurses, and mental health social workers -- both in the U.S. and abroad -- an expansive focus and richness of content unmatched elsewhere in the literature.

DSM-5® Handbook of the Cultural Formulation Interview provides the background, context, and detailed guidance necessary to train clinicians in the use of the Cultural Formulation Interview (CFI), which was created as part of the 2007-2013 DSM revision process. The purpose of the CFI -- and this unique handbook -- is to make it easier for providers to account for the influence of culture in their clinical work to enhance patient-clinician communication and improve outcomes. Cultural psychiatry as a field has evolved enormously from the days when it was principally concerned with epidemiological and clinical studies of disease prevalence; it now examines a multitude of issues, primary among them the differing patient, family, and practitioner models of illness and treatment experiences within and across cultures. The editors, all of whom have been intimately involved in the evolution of the field, have designed the book and accompanying videos for maximum instructional and clinical utility. The Handbook boasts many strengths and useful features, including: A detailed description of each of the three CFI components: a core 16-item questionnaire, which can be applied in any clinical setting with any patient by any mental health clinician; an informant version of the core CFI used to obtain information from caregivers; and 12 supplementary modules that expand on these basic assessments. This material facilitates implementation of the CFI by clinicians. Over a dozen clinical vignettes are included to illustrate use of the three components, and the Handbook also includes multiple videos that demonstrate the application of portions of the core CFI, and several supplementary modules. Strategies for incorporating the CFI into clinical training are identified and discussed, furthering the objective of developing culturally-sensitive and astute practitioners. The theoretical bases of the CFI are explored, raising questions for discussion and identifying areas for further research. The CFI is a valuable tool for all patients, not just those judged to be culturally different. The CFI has been called the single most practically useful contribution of cultural psychiatry and medical anthropology to clinical psychiatry, primary care, and medicine in general. DSM-5® Handbook on the Cultural Formulation Interview is the only book on the market that equips readers with the skills and insight to incorporate the CFI into practice, making it a critically important addition to the clinical literature.

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Increasingly, psychologists are becoming aware of sensitivity needs with respect to treating patients from differing cultures. Culture can play an important role both in what a patient discloses about themselves, how likely they are to follow a therapist's advice, and whether specific therapies are likely to be effective for them. Following on the heels of Tseng's "Handbook of Cultural Psychiatry" comes this "Clinical Application of Cultural Psychiatry." This more concise book focuses on information most relevant to treating patients. The book discusses how culture plays a role in specific disorders (depression, anxiety, eating and sexual disorders, substance abuse, schizophrenia, etc.). relevant sensitivities to keep in mind in treating specific patient populations (age groups, differing religions, and differing ethnicity's).* Written by a nationally and internationally recognized scholar, clinician, and author* Has the proper combination of knowledge, skill, and conceptual discussion for clinical practicalities* Provides comprehensive and systematic coverage of major topics for clinical application * Enhanced by more than 120 tables and figures and nearly 30 case illustrations* Will serve as a major textbook in the training of psychiatric residents and clinical psychologists