How do I approach treating a diverse postpartum population?
The DSM-IV provides a general cultural formulation for medical care, which can be found in the appendices in the back of the reference book. It is hoped that the DSM-V will integrate this concept more fully into each of the major treatment categories. This cultural formulation looks at the cultural identity of the patient, the explanations for the person’s illness, the psychosocial environment, the levels of functioning, and the cultural elements that affect the relationship between the individual and the clinician. This cross-cultural patient model of illness allows the health professional to more fully understand the patient’s beliefs about their illness, and it is a recommended approach when dealing with postpartum patients. • Are there other resources for learning about cross-cultural care for postpartum women? Show/Hide Answer A frequently used encyclopedia edited by Harwood, Ethnicity and Medical Care: A Commonwealth Fund Book (Harvard University Press, 1991) is often cited as a
