Cultural Adaptations of Evidence Based Psychotherapies in Pakistan: A Case Illustration

Problem Domain: The last chapter of this book addresses the practical challenges and complexities involved in culturally adapting evidence-based psychotherapies to the cultural setting of Pakistan. One significant challenge is the lack of practical guidance on how to adapt treatment protocols effectively while considering the cultural nuances and sensitivities specific to Pakistan. Additionally, there is a notable gap in comprehensive information regarding the cultural adaptation of specific treatment protocols, such as Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing and CognitiveBehavioral Therapy, for addressing prevalent mental health issues in Pakistan, including post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and depression. Moreover, there is limited research on the efficacy and feasibility of culturally adapted treatment protocols in real-world settings within the Pakistani context, leaving a gap in understanding the practical implications and outcomes of these interventions.

Goal of this Chapter: The last chapter of this book aims to provide readers with a concrete grasp of the complete process of culturally adapting evidence-based psychotherapies in Pakistan. Through a practical case illustration, this chapter offers insights into the methods for cultural adaptation of treatment protocols and presents the results of an experiment on cultural adaptation conducted in Pakistan. The last chapter has endeavored to address the previously mentioned research gaps by furnishing readers with a solid understanding of the entire process involved in culturally adapting evidence-based psychotherapies within the context of Pakistan.

Selling Points and Contributions of this Chapter: This chapter serves as a valuable resource for practitioners and researchers seeking to enhance the efficacy and cultural relevance of psychotherapeutic interventions in Pakistan. By offering a practical demonstration of the cultural adaptation process and presenting experiment results, this chapter provides actionable insights for improving mental healthcare delivery in the country. This chapter has augmented the existing body of knowledge in the following ways:

i) The chapter presents a practical scenario illustrating the complete process of culturally adapting evidence-based psychotherapies in the cultural setting of Pakistan by providing readers with a detailed understanding of the adaptation process.

ii) Thorough information is provided on the cultural adaptation of treatment protocols of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing and Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for addressing Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, anxiety, and depression in Pakistan, highlighting the importance of tailoring interventions to meet the cultural needs of the population.

iii) The chapter unveils the outcomes of a randomized controlled trial conducted on cultural adaptation in Pakistan, providing valuable insights into the effectiveness and viability of modified treatment protocols in practical settings. The results of this trial have yielded significant insights, manifesting in the development of translated assessment tools like CAPS-5 and culturally adapted trauma-focused psychotherapy protocols. These customized tools and protocols hold promise for utilization by subsequent researchers in Pakistan.

Short Results: In summary, this chapter offers a practical demonstration of culturally adapting evidence-based psychotherapies to the cultural settings of Pakistan by providing valuable insights into the translation of treatment protocols and their efficacy in addressing mental health issues prevalent in the country.