This is a semi-structured interview composed of 16 questions that focus on the individual experience and social context – two versions are available, one for the individual and one for an informant (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). The CFI is designed to improve understanding of patients unique differences in the diagnostic process (Aggarwal, Nicasio, DeSilva, Boiler, & Lewis-Fernández, 2013). The CFI's questions employ a wide-range of theories based in medical anthropology: idioms of distress, explanatory models of illness, social networks, psychosocial stressors and supports, coping and help seeking, cultural identity, stigma, and devices and the patient-clinician relationship (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). In the past it has been suggested that cultural interviews remove the focus – from disease pathology – onto patients unique psychosocial experience (Eisenberg, 1977); and clinicians with this focus may be able to provide treatment that promotes better client satisfaction and gain more adherence to treatments. Information regarding differences between cultures symptom expression, has also been expanded upon – only for some of the disorders – and this is acknowledging that there are different syndromes that are relevant only in specific cultures (Regier et al., 2013). The DSM-5 now encourages clinicians to include the dynamic nature of culture – a construct that includes family values, social norms, individual experiences, and entire life histories (Lopez & Guarnaccia, 2000) – into the diagnostic process (American Psychiatric Association, 2013).
This essay thoroughly describes the recent DSM-5 socio-cultural modifications, which aim increase cultural awareness in the identification, classification, and treatment of mental disorders. Firstly, this essay will consider the connection between socio-cultural variables – such as ethnicity, nativity, race, class, and gender – and psychopathology, as these variables create a different lived experience and in turn affect mental health (Brown, Donato, Laske, & Duncan, 2013).
