Medicine
Volume 36, Issue 8 , Pages 402-404, August 2008

Transcultural psychiatry

Dinesh Bhugra MBBS FRCPsych MPhil PhD is Professor of Mental Health and Cultural Diversity at the Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London and Honorary Consultant at the Maudsley Hospital, London, UK. He qualified from the University of Poona, India, and trained in Leicester, UK and the Maudsley Hospital. His interests include cultural psychiatry, spirituality, sexual dysfunction and diversity. Competing interests: none declared

Abstract 

Black and ethnic minority groups have varying needs in terms of their mental health care. They often present with different idioms of distress and also seek help from non-statutory sources. Culture strongly influences presentation, help-seeking and therapeutic alliance. Clinicians dealing with black and ethnic minority groups must approach their care in a culturally appropriate manner. In this paper some of these factors are highlighted and recommendations made regarding assessment and management. The assessments must take account of factors such as primary language, religion, cultural identity and migration experiences where applicable.

Keywords: assessment, black and ethnic minorities, cultural identity, help-seeking, mental state

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PII: S1357-3039(08)00148-5

doi:10.1016/j.mpmed.2008.05.006

Medicine
Volume 36, Issue 8 , Pages 402-404, August 2008

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