Cultural Considerations in School Psychopharmacology

Abstract

Mental health providers who use multimodal treatment approaches that combine both psychosocial and psychopharmacological treatments should take into consideration sociocultural factors when addressing mental health disparities. This chapter highlights the sociocultural context of the child and family when developing treatment plans that involve psychopharmacological intervention. First, we provide an overview of notable sociocultural factors that should be considered when working with ethnic minority and/or immigrant children and families. Second, we include a brief primer on cultural psychiatry and the integration of clinical services with school support. Lastly, we discuss recommendations for school personnel when providing mental health services to diverse children and families, with a focus on psychopharmacological treatment for children. A set of references and web-based materials are provided to readers for additional information.