Cultural Humility and the Practice of Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry

Cultural competency has long been the gold standard for clinicians who treat patients of different races and/or cultural backgrounds than their own. However, in recent years, there has been increasing criticism of the cultural competency framework because of its reliance on stereotypes and an overemphasis on knowledge acquisition.

We review this transition, including the critiques of cultural competency. We highlight trends in psychiatrist diversity, education, and training on cultural humility, including how consultation-liaison psychiatrists can incorporate advances in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, regarding the role of culture in clinical diagnosis, treatment, and management.

We review the transition from cultural competency to cultural humility, including the critiques of cultural competency. We highlight trends in psychiatrist diversity, education, and training on cultural humility.

We illustrate how consultation-liaison psychiatrists can incorporate advances in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, regarding the role of culture in clinical diagnosis, treatment, and management.

Cultural humility, which minimizes the power imbalance between clinicians and patients and emphasizes patient-focused interviewing and care, is a useful approach for consultation-liaison psychiatrists working with diverse patients and with diverse multidisciplinary teams in the general hospital.