Mood disorders, like depression, bipolar disorder, and dysthymia, are common psychological illnesses that occur worldwide and across the life-span. There is a growing consensus among mental health clinicians and researchers that culture and cultural contect are often key determinants in mood disorder prevention and outcome. It have become increasingly apparent that an appropriate understanding of culture is essential for treatments to be effective, and for optimal outcomes to be obtained by individuals suffering from these conditions. This text focuses on cross-cultural issues arising in the context of diagnosis, treatment, and research of mood disorders within diverse populations of the United States. With specific case examples to supplement the topics reviewed in each chapter, this important volume will be of great interest to all clinicians and researchers working in the area of mood disorders.

1. Using Care with Culture, Jeffrey L. Longhofer, Elizabeth Song Carpenter, and Megan Nordquest 2. Issues in the Diagnosis and Assessment of Mood Disorders in Minorities, Humberto Marin and Javier Escobar 3. Culture-Specific Diagnoses and Their Relationship to Mood Disorders, Peter Guarnaccia and Igda Martinez Pincay 4. The Epidemiology of Mood Disorders Among U.S. Minority Populations, Sana Loue 6. Health Care Seeking and Access, Earnestine Willis and Sheryl E. Allen 7. The Scientific Status of Complementary and Alternative Medicines for Mood Disorders: A Review, Declan Barry and Mark Beitel 8. Loss in Translation: Considering the Critical Role of Interpreters and Language in the Psychiatric Evaluation of Non-English Speaking Patients, Carey Jackson, Doug Zatzick, Raymond Harris, and Lorin Gardiner 9. The Role of Family Diversity in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Mood Disorders, Amy West and Geri Donenberg 10. Models for the Delivery of Care, Amy M. Kilbourne 11. Factoring Culture into Outcomes Measurement in Mental Health, Matt Mendenhall 12. Psychopharmacology and Culture, Martha Sajatovic and Matthew A. Fuller 13. Legal and Ethical Issues in Research Relating to Mood Disorders, Sana Loue 14. Strategies for Recruitment and Retention of Minorities in Research of Mood Disorders, Esperanza Diaz and Cristina I. Huebner 15. Training the Next Generation of Health Care Professionals: Awareness and Appreciation of Cultural Issues in Mental Health, Elizabeth J. Kramer, Cynthia I. Resendez, and Iqbal Ahmed Index.

Sana LoueProfessor of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Martha SajatovicDepartment of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University

"...goes far beyond spelling out some of the most pressing issues in health care today. It highlights the multiplicity of ways cultural, racial, ethnic, and other factors can intersect to form barriers to accurate diagnosis, treatment delivery, and the scientific study of mood disorders as they appear in the diverse communities in the United States...I strongly recommended [this book] to academics and ractitioners without reservation. The book will add to the training and learning of practitioners of all levels and in all areas of psychology, psychiatry, social work, and other fields of study that directly affect health care delivery services."--PsycCritiques |k No