This paper discusses how cultural factors influence the current practice of psychotherapy in the Philippines where most psychotherapist still largely employ Western models. Psychotherapy involves process that are informed by the patient's culture. Indigenous psychotherapies are found in many societies and they may be used alone or in conjunction with Western modalities of treatment. This paper proposes a psychosocial framework that lends efficacy in the treatment modalities for psychological problems. Furthermore, it hopes to provide recommendations vis-a-vis training, service, and research in the field of psychotherapy in the Philippine context.

Human ; Male ; Female ; Philippines ; Psychotherapy ; Societies ; Culture

Culture possesses multiple functions in psychotherapeutic processes: (1) it creates specific sources of stress, (2) it provides specific modes of coping with distress, (3) it governs social responses to distress and disability, (4) it defines the symptoms of distress and psychopathology, (5) it determines the interpretation of symptoms and their subsequent biological, psychological, and social impacts, (6) it guides help-seeking and the response to treatment, and (7) it shapes the meaning of the illness experience. Psychotherapy, therefore, involves processes that are informed by the patient's culture. Indigenous psychotherapies could be found in many societies and they may be used alone or in conjunction with Western modalities of treatment. In the Philippines, psychotherapists largely employ Western models of psychotherapy. This paper describes some indigenous healing rituals and discusses the psychosocial framework that lends efficacy in the treatment modalities for psychological problems. Furthermore, this paper also aims to integrate this framework into the current practice of psychotherapy in the Philippines and provide recommendations vis-a-vis training, service, and research in the field of psychotherapy.
MEDICINE, TRADITIONAL

Most medical faculty members assume various roles such as educator, administrator, clinician, and researcher. (1) Furthermore, they act as role models for students and instruments to improve student wellness. Strategies geared towards the faculty can therefore promote a top-down approach to enhancing student wellness. (2) Unfortunately, there is a dearth of data about this. If we expect the faculty to take care of students’ wellness, then we must ascertain the faculty’s wellness as well.
Faculty, Medical ; Students

The evolution of the treatment of mental illness in the Philippines closely follows path that is taken in Europe and America. The Philippines shares a common language with the rest of the world in the conceptualization and management of mental illness. The history of the treatment of mental illness in the Philippines paints an optimistic view of our future development.
PSYCHIATRY ; MENTAL DISORDERS

Objectives: This study aimed to measure the resilience level of non-medical personnel of the University of the Philippines Manila – Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH) and determine whether this was associated with sociodemographic factors such as gender, length of service and job position. Methodology: A cross-sectional study that included non-medical personnel using convenience sampling via email was done. Data was obtained through the 14-item Resilience Scale (RS-14) as well as a sociodemographic factors questionnaire. Descriptive and non-parametric correlational analysis of data was used. Results: One hundred twenty five of the 153 respondents (81.70%) garnered a resilience score of 74-98 or moderate to high resilience level, while 28 or 18.30% had a resilience score corresponding to very low and on the low end. The mean resilience score was 81.8, corresponding to a moderate resilience level. More women than men had a resilience level of moderate to high. Respondents with greater than 5 years of work experience within the hospital had higher resilience levels than those who were less experienced. Moderate to high resilience levels were found in more administrative than non-administrative personnel. No significant association was found between resilience level and the factors analyzed. In terms of Resilience Core Characteristics, all comparisons between demographic factors of interest and Self-reliance, Purpose, Equanimity, Perseverance and Authenticity yielded insignificant results except for Self-reliance versus length of service, which showed a weak but significant relationship. Exploratory factor analysis found that the unidimensionality of the RS-14 Scale (US Version) still applied when administered to Filipinos in this particular population. Conclusion Majority of the non- medical personnel of the UP -PGH had moderate level of resilience. There was a lack of significant association between resilience level and demographic characteristics like age, length of service, and position in the study sample. In terms of Resilience Core Characteristics, comparison between length of service and self -reliance showed a weak but significant relationship.
Resilience, Psychological ; COVID -19

This paper propounds two main theses. First, it asserts that the boundaries of the doctor-patient relationship are not clearly delineated, but they are clarified by the clarified contexts in which they are formed. Second, there is a need to formulate a set of guidelines that are flexible enough to accommodate ambiguous situations and yet definitive enough to define the limits of the interaction between the doctor and the patient. In order to advance the aforementioned theses, this paper will clarify what boundary transgressions are, how they come about, and how they could avoided.
Human ; PROFESSIONAL-PATIENT RELATIONS ; PHYSICIAN-PATIENT RELATIONS

It has been more than a decade since the Committee on Standardization and Accreditation of Residency Training was renamed Board of Accreditation of the Specialty Board of Philippine Psychiatry (SBPP). The SBPP is composed of two bodies namely the Boards of Accreditation and Certification. These bodies are mandated to uphold the highest standards of accrediting psychiatry residency training programs (Board of Accreditation) and granting diplomate status to graduates of these programs (Board of Certification). Guided by the biopsychosocial and spiritual model of health, the Board of Accreditation remains steadfast in ensuring that psychiatry residency training programs continue to be relevant to current demands of mental health and psychiatric care in the country. In addition, it sees to it that these programs are in harmony with global standards. As psychiatry faces new challenges in the third millennium, certain innovations and iterations in the manner by which mental illnesses are diagnosed, treated, and prevented must be set in place. Through its Millennium Developmental Goals, the United Nations has declared that the achievement of gender equality is an effective way of combating disease. Mental health problems and psychiatric disorders are closely linked with gender-related issues. Yet, many residency training programs in the Philippines have not formally and systematically integrated gender sensitivity into their curricula. The same can be said of the concepts of religion and spirituality. Numerous researches have established the positive link between religion and spirituality and mental health.
Psychiatry ; Internship and Residency