Symposium

Abstract

Medical anthropology is the study of how health and illness are shaped, experienced, and understood in light of global, historical, and political forces. According to the Society for Medical Anthropology Medical Anthropology is a subfield of anthropology that draws upon social, cultural, biological, and linguistic anthropology to better understand those factors which influence health and well being (broadly defined), the experience and distribution of illness, the prevention and treatment of sickness, healing processes, the social relations of therapy management, and the cultural importance and utilization of pluralistic medical systems. Dr. C. Radhakanth would elaborate on Medical Anthropology, Culture and Psychiatry.While Transcultural Psychiatry does study and has reported several associations between Culture and Symptomatology, Prognosis, interpretation and explanation of illness etc. Specific ways in which Psychiatrists need to incorporate it in their practice through the Cultural Formulation of DSM 5 is a recent phenomenon and comparison of Practices in US and UK with India by young Psychiatrists who have tried to migrate there is illuminating. Dr. Prasanth would elucidate the differences of Indo-UK psychiatry as a practitioner in both countries apart from the utility of the Cultural Formulation. Dr. Sarath would talk about his observations of Indo US differences in approach to the Psychiatric patient and delivery of services based on his experience in both countries.Symposium title “ Cultural Aspects in Psychiatric Practice – Comparison of Indian, UK and US practices”