The grieving witch: a framework for applying principles of cultural psychiatry to clinical practice

Abstract

While most psychiatrists would probably agree that culture affects clinical practice, the task of translating this proposition into practical principles remains to be accomplished. This review article examines research findings and, based on this examination, suggests management principles for an episode of illness in a woman of different cultural background than those of her caretakers. The review examines how cultural considerations affect the definition, presentation, causes, diagnosis and treatment of illness.