• What's Happening: People from different cultures experience mental disorders and treatments differently.
• Why It Matters: This difference affects how successful treatment is.

Example: Think of wearing glasses. If your glasses don't fit your face shape (akin to cultural differences), they won't work well for you.

• Low Patient Compliance: Patients don't always follow the treatment plan.
• Why? Cultural differences in expectations about treatment.

Example: Imagine going to a restaurant in another country and misunderstanding the dining etiquette. This confusion can be like how patients and clinicians misunderstand each other.

• Who? Kinzie and team.
• What? Studied 41 Southeast Asian patients with depression in the US.
• Findings: A whopping 61% had no detectable antidepressant medicine level; only 15% had a therapeutic level.
• Interesting Twist: Cambodian patients were more likely to follow treatment than Vietnamese patients.

• Scared of Strong Medicine: Some folks are like Goldilocks and think the medicine is too strong.
• Side Effects: Think of medicine as a spicy meal; some people can't handle the heat (side effects).
• Social Stigma: Taking psychiatric medicine might be seen as embarrassing or shameful.