Clinician's Guide to Cultural Psychiatry

9780127016337

0127016333

"Tseng's masterful book makes culture alive for the clinician through multiple case examples as well as significant basic information about the foundations of cultural psychiatry. It is a powerful tool for clinicians and psychiatric residents striving to achieve cultural competency in understanding and treating patients." Armando Favazza, M.D., Professor and Associate Chair, Department of Psychiatry, University of Missouri-Columbia "For decades, Wen-Shing Tseng has been one of the world's foremost educators and scholars in cultural psychiatry. The encyclopedic scope of his expertise in cultural psychiatry was well demonstrated in a textbook on this subject published last year. Since the publication of that text, cultural competency has become an expected and in most mental health programs, a mandated standard in training and clinical care. Dr. Wen-Shing Tseng has responded to these recent new requirements by offering a more practical, updated version of his already classic Handbook of Cultural Psychiatry. The result, entitled the Clinician's Guide to Cultural Psychiatry is a must read for all clinicians and those in training in the mental health professions." Edward F. Foulks, M.D., Ph.D., Professor of Psychiatry and Associated Dean, Tulane University School of Medicine "Dr. Tseng's excellent guide reaches us at a propitious time. The number of foreign-born residents in the United States has risen to its highest levels in the last half century. As access to psychiatric services has increased, people of all ethnic groups increasingly value psychiatric services. And young clinicians reflect the growing diversity of our society. Cultural competence in clinical care is no longer an esoteric topic; it is the stuff of everyday clinical practice. This guide provides the conceptual framework for practicing in a culturally competent manner. In addition, case studies and practical tips bring to life the skillful application of this knowledge and clinical methods." Joseph Westermeyer, M.D., M.P.H., Ph.D., Professor of Psychiatry and Adjunct Professor of Anthropology, University of Minnesota; and Chief of Psychiatry and Director of Mental Health Services, Minneapolis VAMC After publishing the landmark Handbook of Cultural Psychiatry, which won the "Creative Achievement Award" from the Society of the Study of Psychiatry and Culture, the author worked on this concise, and expanded version of the Handbook as a practical guide for clinicians working in multiethnic societies. The Clinician's Guide to Cultural Psychiatry begins with an introduction to the cultural dimensions of human behavior, stress, and illness, then moves on to elaborate on the impact of culture on psychopathology, clinical practice, and psychological therapies elaborating on how to provide culturally competent care in various clinical settings and for different ethnic groups. It ends with an examination of unique social phenomena relevant to clinical work. There are more than 120 illustrations and nearly 30 case vignettes included to enhance the clinical applicability. This is the first book written in comprehensive, textbook style as a clinicians' guide for practical work.