Abstract:
Identifies and explains the factors, such as cultural differences, acculturation, models of disease and multi- professional team functioning, which influence the effective psychiatric treatment of the patient. The aim is to determine to what extent the needs or problems with which the patient presents are correctly interpreted by the therapeutic team and how applicable the treatment is. The psychiatric out-patients of Pelonomi Hospital were involved in the study. It is found that the "black" model of disease still plays an important role among the experimental group. Such cultural influences were not always taken into account by the therapeutic team. It appears that 50% - 60% of the patients had inapplicable expectations with regard to psychotherapeutic treatment and received unsuitable cognitive therapy. It is also found that various factors of multiprofessional team functioning influenced the effective treatment of the patient. Such problems and obstacles which hamper the team's effecting functioning were discussed with them. Proposals are made to overcome these obstacles.
