Religious psychopathology: The prevalence of religious content of delusions and hallucinations in mental disorder

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Abstract

Background:

Religious themes are commonly encountered in delusions and hallucinations associated with major mental disorders, and the form and content of presentation are significant in relation to both diagnosis and management.

Aims:

This study aimed to establish what is known about the frequency of occurrence of religious delusions (RD) and religious hallucinations (RH) and their inter-relationship.

Methods:

A review was undertaken of the quantitative empirical English literature on RD and RH.

Results:

A total of 55 relevant publications were identified. The lack of critical criteria for defining and classifying RD and RH makes comparisons between studies difficult, but prevalence clearly varies with time and place, and probably also according to personal religiosity. In particular, little is known about the content and frequency of RH and the relationship between RH and RD.

Conclusion:

Clearer research criteria are needed to facilitate future study of RD and RH, and more research is needed on the relationship between RD and RH.

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Most cited references 52

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Addiction and spirituality.

Christopher C H Cook (2004)

Spirituality is a topic of increasing interest to clinicians and researchers interested in addiction. To clarify the way(s) in which the concept of spirituality is understood and employed in practice by clinicians and researchers who publish papers on addiction and spirituality, and to develop a definition or description of spirituality which might receive widespread assent within the field. A descriptive study of 265 published books and papers on spirituality and addiction. The study revealed a diversity and lack of clarity of understanding of the concept of spirituality. However, it was possible to identify 13 conceptual components of spirituality which recurred within the literature. Among these conceptual components of spirituality, 'relatedness' and 'transcendence' were encountered most frequently. 'Meaning/purpose', 'wholeness (non-)religiousness' and 'consciousness' were encountered less frequently in the papers on addiction and spirituality than in an unsystematically ascertained sample of papers concerned with spirituality in relation to other areas of psychology and medicine. However, biases in the literature are notable. For example, the great majority of publications are from North America and the field is dominated by interest in Twelve-Step and Christian spirituality. Spirituality, as understood within the addiction field, is currently poorly defined. Thirteen conceptual components of spirituality which are employed in this field are identified provisionally and a working definition is proposed as a basis for future research.

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Dimensional approach to delusions: comparison across types and diagnoses.

Tania L. Roth, Richard Appelbaum, P Robbins (1999)

A dimensional approach to the characterization of delusions was used to examine the use of non-content-related descriptors of delusions in revealing differences across diagnostic categories and delusion types. Interviews with 1,136 acutely hospitalized psychiatric patients identified subjects as definitely or possibly delusional on the basis of screening questions derived from the Diagnostic Interview Schedule. Subjects with delusions were given the MacArthur-Maudsley Delusions Assessment Schedule, which generates scores on six dimensions of delusions. Delusions were classified by type, and diagnoses were assigned by using the DSM-III-R checklist. A total of 328 subjects (29%) were rated as definitely or possibly delusional. Their ratings on dimensions of the MacArthur-Maudsley Delusions Assessment Schedule were significantly but modestly intercorrelated. Subjects with schizophrenia generally had more intense delusions than those in other diagnostic categories. Grandiose and religious delusions were held with the greatest conviction, whereas persecutory delusions were marked by strong negative affect and a propensity to act. Factor analysis of the dimensions revealed a consistent two factor solution-"intensity and scope" and "affect and action"-regardless of the diagnosis or delusion type. The stability of the dimensional structure of delusions across diagnoses and delusion types suggests that even seemingly diverse delusions are more like than unlike each other; this is consistent with common etiologic mechanisms. The utility of a dimensional approach is indicated, in addition, by the ability to characterize delusions of different types and diagnoses so as to highlight therapeutic and other implications.

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Religious beliefs in schizophrenia: their relevance for adherence to treatment.

C Gillieron, L Borrás, A Eytan … (2007)

The study examined how religious beliefs and practices impact upon medication and illness representations in chronic schizophrenia. One hundred three stabilized patients were included in Geneva's outpatient public psychiatric facility in Switzerland. Interviews were conducted to investigate spiritual and religious beliefs and religious practices and religious coping. Medication adherence was assessed through questions to patients and to their psychiatrists and by a systematic blood drug monitoring. Thirty-two percent of patients were partially or totally nonadherent to oral medication. Fifty-eight percent of patients were Christians, 2% Jewish, 3% Muslim, 4% Buddhist, 14% belonged to various minority or syncretic religious movements, and 19% had no religious affiliation. Two thirds of the total sample considered spirituality as very important or even essential in everyday life. Fifty-seven percent of patients had a representation of their illness directly influenced by their spiritual beliefs (positively in 31% and negatively in 26%). Religious representations of illness were prominent in nonadherent patients. Thirty-one percent of nonadherent patients and 27% of partially adherent patients underlined an incompatibility or contradiction between their religion and taking medication, versus 8% of adherent patients. Religion and spirituality contribute to shaping representations of disease and attitudes toward medical treatment in patients with schizophrenia. This dimension should be on the agenda of psychiatrists working with patients with schizophrenia.

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Author and article information

Journal

Journal ID (nlm-ta): Int J Soc Psychiatry

Journal ID (iso-abbrev): Int J Soc Psychiatry

Journal ID (publisher-id): ISP

Journal ID (hwp): spisp

Title: The International Journal of Social Psychiatry

Publisher: SAGE Publications (Sage UK: London, England )

ISSN (Print): 0020-7640

ISSN (Electronic): 1741-2854

Publication date (Print and electronic): June 2015

Publication date (Print): June 2015

Volume: 61

Issue: 4

Pages: 404-425

Affiliations

[1-0020764015573089]Department of Theology and Religion, Durham University, Durham, UK

Author notes

[*]Christopher CH Cook, Department of Theology and Religion, Durham University, Abbey House, Palace Green, Durham DH1 3RS, UK. Email: c.c.h.cook@ 123456durham.ac.uk

Article

Publisher ID: 10.1177_0020764015573089

DOI: 10.1177/0020764015573089

PMC ID: 4440877

PubMed ID: 25770205

SO-VID: bf5a1a68-a859-4bdb-84a2-f011175fb494

License:

This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License ( http://www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/) which permits any use, reproduction and distribution of the work without further permission provided the original work is attributed as specified on the SAGE and Open Access page ( http://www.uk.sagepub.com/aboutus/openaccess.htm).

Religious psychopathology: The prevalence of religious content of delusions and hallucinations in mental disorder

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Abstract

Background:

Aims:

Methods:

Results:

Conclusion:

Related collections

Hogrefe Psychology

Most cited references 52

Addiction and spirituality.

Dimensional approach to delusions: comparison across types and diagnoses.

Religious beliefs in schizophrenia: their relevance for adherence to treatment.

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