Working with patients with religious beliefs¹

Abstract

Mental health professionals in Western societies are generally less religious than their patients and receive little training in religious issues. Using case studies, the author discusses issues involved in working with patients who hold religious beliefs: problems of engagement; countertransference; religious and spiritual issues not attributable to mental disorder; problems of differential diagnosis; religious delusions; religion and psychotherapy; psychosexual problems; and religiously oriented treatments. The article ends with a discussion of the various ways in which religious themes can be incorporated into mental health work, especially the need to involve religious professionals and develop collaborative patterns of working together with mental health professionals.

To trust or not to trust? Faith issues in psychopharmacological prescribing

“…The causes of poor adherence to treatment are numerous (Robinson et al, 1999) but beliefs regarding mental illness and psychotropic medication are significant factors cited in the literature (Hughes et al, 1997). Although it is generally thought that religious beliefs do not influence medication compliance (Dein, 2004), resolving non-adherence to pharmacotherapy should involve a comprehensive assessment of the patient's demographics, social circumstances, and cultural and religious beliefs (Sattar et al, 2004a;Subach & Abdul-Ezz, 1999). Some researchers claim that not only do patients with strong spiritual values cope better with mental illness but their understanding of illness behaviour is also greater, giving them better insight into their condition (Kirov et al, 1998).…”

Pasienters erfaring med sjelesorg i en psykiatrisk klinikk

“…Det er en økende oppfatning at prester med pastoralklinisk utdanning er sentrale i tverrfaglige team på sykehus (14,15), og i denne sammenheng kan presten bli definert som helsearbeider (16 (18). Det selvkonstruerte spørreskjemaet inneholdt åpne spørsmål, og dekket sosiodemografiske data (kjønn og alder) og erfaringer fra samtaler med prest.…”

Religiosity, Spirituality, and Mental Health in Portugal: A call for a conceptualisation, relationship, and guidelines for integration (a theoretical review)

“…The ambiguity is so profound that, for some authors, religion should be considered as a broader and more general construct than spirituality (Pargament, 1999;Hill et al, 2000); whereas others see religion as a component falling into an "umbrella", of the spirituality (Miller, 1999;Dein, 2004). As mentioned before, it is commonly accepted, though, that both religion and spirituality emphasise the depth of meaning and purpose in life, and connection to the sacred (Dein, 2004;Büssing et al, 2005;Dein, et al, 2010;Koenig et al, 2012); where some may be "religious and spiritual"; "religious, but not spiritual"; or yet again "spiritual, but not religious", without dismissing those who are "neither religious nor spiritual" (Worthington, Kurusu, McCollough & Sandage, 1996;Koenig, George, Titus & Meador, 2004;Richards & Bergin, 2005;Saucier & Skrzypińska, 2006;Büssing, 2010).…”

“…Pinto & Pais-Ribeiro, 2007;Gouveia, Marques & Ribeiro,process. It has been hypothesised that this impact is largely due to the meaning, meaning making and connection to the transcendent religion and spirituality may provide to one's life (George, Ellison & Larson, 2002;Dein, 2004;Büssing, Ostermann & Matthiessen, 2005;Park, 2005;Dein, Cook, Powell & Eagger, 2010;Koenig et al, 2012); in a sense that these domains can influence one's beliefs, goals, emotions or even the core of human existence (Park, 2005).…”