"This article reviews some limitations of the current guideline for the DSM-IV-TR Cultural Formulation (CF) from the perspective of psychiatric practice that are based on the author's experience conducting doctoral courses on cultural psychiatry from 1996 to 2007 in the Department of Psychiatry at the Universidad Autonoma de Madrid (Spain). Two proposals are presented for facilitating use of the CF by general clinicians," investigators in Madrid, Spain report (see also Psychiatry).

"These proposals offer a procedure for embedding only the most relevant clinical information in a psychiatric history, followed by a brief cultural formulation. The approach is illustrated with a clinical case," wrote L.C. Martinez and colleagues, Autonomous University.

The researchers concluded: "Although the CF has considerable promise for revealing knowledge about patients, health practices, and health systems that is essential for clinical care, substantial research must be carried out to facilitate widespread use of the CF in clinical practice."

Martinez and colleagues published their study in Transcultural Psychiatry (DSM-IV-TR Cultural Formulation of Psychiatric Cases: Two Proposals for Clinicians. Transcultural Psychiatry, 2009;46(3):506-523).

For additional information, contact L.C. Martinez, Autonomous University of Madrid, E-28049 Madrid, Spain.

The publisher of the journal Transcultural Psychiatry can be contacted at: Sage Publications Ltd., 1 Olivers Yard, 55 City Road, London EC1Y 1SP, England.