DSM-5 (R) Handbook on the Cultural Formulation Interview

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.