Author(s): Elizabeth J. Kramer, Sc.M., New York University; Peter Guarnaccia, Ph.D., Rutgers University; Cynthia Resendez, M.D.; Francis G. Lu, M.D., University of California, Davis

Contributor(s): Benjamin Barreras, M.D., University of California, San Francisco; JoEllen Brainin-Rodriguez, M.D., University of California, San Francisco

Date Authored: January 1, 2009

This is a 46 minute training video authored in 2009 by Elizabeth J. Kramer, Sc.M., New York University; Peter Guarnaccia, Ph.D., Rutgers University; Cynthia Resendez, M.D.; and Francis G. Lu, M.D., University of California, Davis.

The video targets psychiatry residents, social workers, clinical psychologists, mental health nurses, mental health counselors and case managers. The goal is to demonstrate how Latino patients present their stigma of mental illness and how skilled therapists manage it.

The video is comprised of vignettes of interviews with three simulated Latino patients: a young man with schizophrenia; a grandmother with bipolar disorder, whose son does not think she is well enough to care for her granddaughter; and a young woman who has been molested by her mother’s boyfriend and previously misdiagnosed as having schizophrenia. The vignettes are based on cases developed by the psychiatrists who appear in the DVD. The patients are actors, but the case material comes from real patients with whom the clinicians have worked. The cases have been altered to protect the identities of the patients involved.

  • The case of Diego, a young man with schizophrenia, begins at 4 minutes 7 seconds.
  • The case of Mrs. Pedrosa, a grandmother with bipolar disorder, begins at 22 minutes 2 seconds.
  • The case of Carmen, a young woman who has been molested by her mother’s boyfriend and previously misdiagnosed as having schizophrenia, begins at 32 minutes 33 seconds.

Facilitator’s Guide

The Facilitator’s Guide (see sidebar) is 34 page PDF study guide for use with the video. Includes description of the Latino community in the United States including information about demographics, language, religion and use of herbal medicines. Also covered, the concept of ‘locura,’ information about culture bound syndromes, and overview of mental illness and mental health stigma in this population. The guide includes description of the purpose, learning objectives, potential uses and audiences for the video, along with helpful hints for facilitators and more information about the clinical and cultural aspects of the 3 case studies in the video. Also included, DSM-IV-TR Outline for Cultural Formulation.

Use the order form in the side bar to order the DVD from Mental Health America of California.

Used with permission.