Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-mwx4w Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-07-02T05:47:26.942Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Author's Reply. RE: An intercultural perspective towards supporting antipsychotic medication adherence in clinical practice

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 July 2023

Tharun Zacharia*
Affiliation:
Consultant Psychiatrist, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, UK. Email: tharun.zacharia@slam.nhs.uk
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Type
Correspondence
Creative Commons
Creative Common License - CCCreative Common License - BY
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution licence (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted re-use, distribution and reproduction, provided the original article is properly cited.
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2023. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of the Royal College of Psychiatrists

Thank you for your thought-provoking response on 24 April 2023. I found your agreed emphasis on humility, genuineness and person-centeredness in the cultural learning within the clinician–patient relationship to be truly refreshing. By positioning clinicians as active learners, equalising the power dynamic and centralising the therapeutic alliance, the proposed approach aligns well with the principles of patient-centred care.

The discussion of how such an approach could be practically integrated into routine history-taking and other aspects of clinical care is important but, in my opinion, should not be stated too prescriptively as to stifle the naturally forming alliance between doctor and patient. The individual background and traits of the clinician are likely to affect the approach and, therefore, a ‘clinician-centred’ approach is required. Broadly speaking though, the introduction of cultural competence training in medical schools to promote engagement with these cultural aspects of the clinical–patient dynamic is vital, allowing the doctor to reflect on how their own culture and that of the patient can be used to strengthen the alliance.Reference Betancourt, Green, Carrillo and Ananeh-Firempong1

I agree that Balint groups are a suitable opportunity to address issues of race, ethnicity and culture more freely. At GKT Medical School (King's College London), Balint groups are incorporated into medical student training (third year) and, through my experience as a co-facilitator of these groups, I have found medical students to often feel liberated by the unique opportunity to speak about the above issues in a reflective context while beginning clinical placements.

I share your concern about potentially overemphasising medication adherence as a standalone goal, especially when considering individuals from minority ethnic backgrounds. However, evidence clearly suggests the efficacy of antipsychotic medication.Reference Leucht, Cipriani, Spineli, Mavridis, Orey and Richter2 As this is an evidence-based treatment, it's important that we consider parity of care among ethnic minorities, and therefore the article promotes important discussion about tailoring a person-centred approach in this particular intervention. I agree, however, that more work is also needed to address non-pharmacological interventions.

The study you referenced by Mclean et alReference Mclean, Campbell and Cornish3 sheds light on the disparities in mental healthcare, indicating a tendency toward overmedication and a lack of psychotherapy options for these patients. It is crucial to take into account alternative explanatory models of illness, including psychological and socioeconomic factors, in order to provide a comprehensive understanding of mental health and optimise patient outcomes. By incorporating these perspectives, we can avoid perpetuating a narrow biomedical model that has sometimes dominated Western psychiatry to the detriment of patients.Reference Mclean, Campbell and Cornish3

I agree with your appreciation of the therapeutic alliance as a fundamental component of effective care. Your point about a good therapeutic alliance serving as a vehicle towards improvement, independent of medication, aligns with growing recognition of the multifaceted nature of mental health treatment. For many patients, medication will remain an important aspect of achieving an optimal outcome.Reference Lambert, Whipple and Hawkins4,Reference Flückiger, Del Re, Wampold, Horvath and Solomonov5

Sadly, I agree a stigma often persists around foreign-born or foreign-trained doctors and medical leaders. A culture change within many National Health Service organisations is required. Cultural competence training, brave leadership and trust-wide culture-based reflective forums may be a starting point to open these discussions in a non-judgemental setting. We already recognise that foreign-trained doctors perform significantly worse in the CASC membership examination after controlling for educational and background variables.Reference Tiffin and Paton6 This perpetuates the idea that cultural differences in the clinician are unvalued.

Thank you once again for your thought-provoking letter, which highlights the significance of intercultural perspectives in mental healthcare. Your insights and recommendations serve as valuable contributions to the ongoing dialogue surrounding the provision of patient-centred and culturally sensitive care.

Declaration of interest

None

References

Betancourt, JR, Green, AR, Carrillo, JE, Ananeh-Firempong, O. Defining cultural competence: a practical framework for addressing racial/ethnic disparities in health and health care. Public Health Rep 2003; 118(4): 293302.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Leucht, S, Cipriani, A, Spineli, L, Mavridis, D, Orey, D, Richter, F, et al. Comparative efficacy and tolerability of 15 antipsychotic drugs in schizophrenia: a multiple-treatments meta-analysis. Lancet 2013; 382(9896): 951–62.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Mclean, C, Campbell, C, Cornish, F. African–Caribbean interactions with mental health services in the UK: experiences and expectations of exclusion as (re)productive of health inequalities. Soc Sci Med 2003; 56(3): 657–69.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lambert, MJ, Whipple, JL, Hawkins, EJ. Is it time to abandon the common factors paradigm? Psychotherapy 2013; 50(4): 452–6.Google Scholar
Flückiger, C, Del Re, AC, Wampold, BE, Horvath, AO, Solomonov, N. Which psychotherapy works for whom? A systematic review and meta-analysis of personalized treatment in psychotherapy. J Consult Clin Psychol 2018; 86(6): 519–34.Google Scholar
Tiffin, PA, Paton, LW. Differential attainment in the MRCPsych according to ethnicity and place of qualification between 2013 and 2018: a UK cohort study. Postgrad Med J 2021; 97: 764–76.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Submit a response

eLetters

No eLetters have been published for this article.