Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry
Volume 10, Issue 3, 2005, Pages 305-317

The work of culture in the treatment of psychosis in migrant adolescents (Review)

Rousseau C.* , Key F. , Measham T.
  • a Montreal Children's Hospital, Montreal, Que., Canada, Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, Que., Canada, Transcultural Child Psychiatry Clinic, Montreal Children's Hospital, Montreal, Que., Canada, Transcultural Child Psychiatry Team, Psychiatry Department, Montreal Children's Hospital, 4018 Ste-Catherine Street West, Montreal, Que. H3Z 1P2, Canada
  • b Montreal Children's Hospital, Montreal, Que., Canada, Department of Psychiatry and Pediatrics, McGill University, Montreal, Que., Canada, Department of Psychiatry, Montreal Children's Hospital, Montreal, Que., Canada
  • c Montreal Children's Hospital, Montreal, Que., Canada, Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, Que., Canada, Division of Social and Transcultural Psychiatry, Transcultural Child Psychiatry Service, Montreal Children's Hospital, Montreal, Que., Canada

Abstract

Psychotic illness in an adolescent is a catastrophic event for families, particularly migrant families, who tend to use mental health services less than mainstream families. This article presents a clinical approach that takes into account the work of culture in the construction of meaning and the development of coping strategies for migrant families faced with the onset of psychosis in an adolescent. This approach transforms the therapeutic space into a transitional one that allows the interplay of many different interpretations and strategies to deal with the crisis. Recognizing the potential value of non-western systems of knowledge, offering help as the family grieves the loss of its expectations for their child, mobilizing support systems, and strengthening the therapeutic alliance are the key elements in this process. Copyright © 2005 SAGE Publications.

Author Keywords

culture Immigrant Adolescent Treatment Psychosis

Index Keywords

cultural anthropology immigrant mental health service schizophrenia clinical feature mental health human psychosis brief psychotic disorder coping behavior psychotherapy psychopharmacotherapy family crisis intervention Review support group psychiatric treatment mood stabilizer risperidone neuroleptic agent
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-23044444095&doi=10.1177%2f1359104505053751&partnerID=40&md5=477e0fde7514426b1fb84953aefe6955
DOI: 10.1177/1359104505053751
ISSN: 13591045
Cited by: 7
Original Language: English