Cultural factors and the use of psychotropic medications

Abstract

Culture and attitudes towards medications: The prescription and use of medications fundamentally involves a social transaction that carries both symbolic and social meanings based on the interactions between the patient, doctor, and their social environment (Moerman, 1979). Consequently medication uptake and use is considerably influenced by sociocultural factors, ultimately influencing therapeutic benefit, as first surmised by Murphy (1969). Cross-cultural and cross-ethnic differences in drug response are considerable, and beyond explanations based simply on the biological effects of the medication. Sociocultural factors include beliefs and expectations concerning the illness, the treatment..