Assessment tools and cultural formulation

Abstract

Assessment tools can support clinical assessments but cannot replace them. They can be used for a number of purposes. They are standardized tools but may require some adjustments if they are being used in cultures other than those in which they were developed. If they have been translated into other languages, it is essential that translation be carried out with proper conceptual equivalence rather than simple literal translation. The experiences of migration and acculturation need to be assessed carefully. Furthermore, for the first time DSM-5 includes concepts of cultural formulation; the key features include cultural identity of individuals, cultural explanations of their illnesses, cultural factors related to their environment and levels of functioning, various cultural elements of relationship between the clinician and the individual, and overall cultural assessment. At the heart of cultural formulation lie the principles of cultural sensitivity.