Roberto Blanco, MD
All psychiatric conditions are based on culturally accepted norms of behavior in a patient population. How much a symptom cluster deviates from these norms typically determines pathology. As with any other patient population, these cultural factors are present and important considerations in the care of people with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD), and it is important to understand how patients and families view themselves and their goals within their communities. In fact, due to the increased effect of environment on symptom clusters in
IDD, cultural factors may play an outweighed role. Knowledge of culture and cultural competency provides a critical role in assessing and optimizing care for individuals with IDD. Best practices include utilizing tools such as the Cultural Formulation Interview, having individuals and families explain how their experiences would be explained to others, and any concerns they have with individuals from different cultures understanding symptomatology and diagnosis. While it’s impossible to understand every culture and sub-culture, a humble, caring, and curious approach to understanding family and individual beliefs about behaviors, diagnoses, and routines will likely yield improved information gathering. This also leads to improved diagnostic accuracy, treatment planning, and ultimately desired outcomes of treatment such as treatment fidelity, improvement in pathologic behaviors, and improved well-being.
The following resources are provided to the public at no cost and were curated by the editors of this guide.
- American Psychiatric Association: Cultural Psychiatry
- A Pharmacist's Guide to Culturally Competent and Inclusive Care
- How to Create a Culturally Competent Medical Practice
- Cultural Context Important in Psychiatric Diagnosis [Video]
- Psychiatry of Intellectual Disability [Video]
- Using the Cultural Formulation Interview [Video]
