Transcultural Psychiatry
Volume 46, Issue 3, 2009, Pages 487-505
Use of the Cultural Formulation with Refugees (Article)
Rohlof H. ,
Knipscheer J.W. ,
Kleber R.J.
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a
Centrum '45, Oegstgeest; Arq, National Expert Centre for the Treatment of Victims of Prosecution, War and Violence, Diemen, Netherlands
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b
Utrecht University; Arq, National Expert Centre for the Treatment of Victims of Prosecution, War and Violence Diemen, Netherlands
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c
Utrecht University; Arq, National Expert Centre for the Treatment of Victims of Prosecution, War and Violence Diemen, Netherlands
Abstract
This article discusses the experiences of mental health professionals who applied the Cultural Formulation (CF) of the DSM-IV for assessment of psychopathology and treatment needs of refugees in the Netherlands. The CF approach proved to be a useful tool in the assessment and diagnostic phase of clinical treatment. However, patients reported problems with defining their own culture and providing explanations of illness and therapists had difficulty identifying culturally-based difficulties in the clinical relationship. Additional information was needed about working with interpreters, therapists’ attitudes towards the culture of the patient and towards their own culture, patients’ previous experiences with discrimination and inaccessibility of care, gender issues, and specific cultures and subcultures. A more structured approach to conducting the CF is recommended. We developed the “Cultural Formulation Interview” for this purpose. The adaptations are aimed at improving the CF for use with refugee populations, as well as for more general use in transcultural psychiatry. © 2009, McGill University. All rights reserved.
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https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-70350704790&doi=10.1177%2f1363461509344306&partnerID=40&md5=0773cec7535e94bbbecf1fe178d375d1
DOI: 10.1177/1363461509344306
ISSN: 13634615
Cited by: 23
Original Language: English