title: Psychiatric function and roles in an Indian health program context.
abstract: This paper relates the experience of a non-Indian psychiatrist who successfully functioned in an urban Indian health care setting. It illustrates the process of becoming a part of a mental health team and the complexities of becoming a culturally-sensitive psychotherapist. This is accomplished by relating personal experiences, observations, case examples and self-questioning of therapeutic roles and functions. The author concludes that a psychiatrist should not rigidly define his or her role upon entering a particular setting but instead should allow a multitude of roles to unfold. Psychiatrists are also urged to remain constant students of the culture of the patients and organization, applying that knowledge as dictate by the treatment situation.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007198:Indians, North American / Q000523:psychology*; D007396:Internship and Residency; D010348:Patient Care Team; D010819:Physician's Role; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011570:Psychiatry / Q000193:education; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000193:education; D014481:United States; D014504:Urban Health