Cultural Aspects of Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry

Culture influences thoughts, emotions, and behaviors in individuals, groups, and communities, and thus it can have a significant impact on the illness behavior and the practice of health care. Increasingly culturally competent medical practice is the goal for patients of diverse ethnic or cultural backgrounds (Bigby, 2003; Tseng and Streltzer, 2007). The consultation-liaison psychiatrist should be aware of cultural aspects not only of the assessment of the patient, but also of the consultation process itself. This chapter elaborates broadly on cultural aspects of consultation-liaison service, including the process of referral, the nature of the clinical problems, the interview, and clinical management and liaison work.