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Why do psychiatrists neglect religion
Abstract
This paper analyses a number of possible reasons why modern psychiatry has neglected the therapeutic effects of religious beliefs. The gap which exists between psychiatry and religion is a relatively recent phenomenon and is partly related to psychiatry's progress in elucidating the biological and psychological causes of mental illness, rendering religious explanations superfluous. In addition, it is often assumed that religious attitudes are inevitably linked with phenomena such as dependence and guilt which are frequently seen as undesirable. Psychiatrists and psychologists tend to be less religiously orientated than their patients, which may further increase the professional's idea that religious beliefs are associated with disturbance. However, it has long been suspected that a positive relation exists between religion and mental health, and recently, the psychology of religion has provided empirical support for this idea. Psychiatry faces the challenge to accommodate this evidence into theory and practice.
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“Some authors33,34 attribute this finding to the influence of psychological theories, such as Sigmund Freud's35 psychoanalysis, which is known to have pathologized religious behavior.”
From How psychiatrists think about religious and spiritual beliefs in clinical practice: findings from a university hospital in São Paulo, Brazil (2019) · cites this paper as [33]
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Religious affiliation and suicide attempt
Dervic, K., Oquendo, M. A., Grunebaum, M. F., Ellis, S., Burke, A. K., & Mann, J. J. (2004) · American Journal of Psychiatry · doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.161.12.2303 · Cited by 449
“As Neeleman and Persaud (41) stated, psychiatric practice might be improved if an understanding of the role of religious beliefs in mental health and adaptation were integrated into research and practice.”
BackgroundSpirituality, religiousness, and mental health: A review of the current scientific evidence
Lucchetti, G., Koenig, H. G., & Lucchetti, A. L. G. (2021) · World Journal of Clinical Cases · doi:10.12998/wjcc.v9.i26.7620 · Cited by 451
Patterns and Correlates of Contacting Clergy for Mental Disorders in the United States
Wang, P. S., Berglund, P. A., & Kessler, R. C. (2003) · Health Services Research · doi:10.1111/1475-6773.00138 · Cited by 278
“…feedback to clergy from other treaters, financial considerations, lack of perceived or common values, and outright negative attitudes toward clergy held by many health care professionals (McCann 1962; Piedmont 1968; Hong and Wiehe 1974; Virkler 1979; Mollica et al. 1986; Neeleman and Persaud 1995).”
BackgroundDelusional ideation in religious and psychotic populations
PETERS, E. R., Day, S., Mckenna, J., & ORBACH, G. (1999) · British Journal of Clinical Psychology · doi:10.1348/014466599162683 · Cited by 263
Clinical implications of spirituality to mental health: review of evidence and practical guidelines
Moreira-Almeida, A., Koenig, H. G., & Lucchetti, G. (2014) · Revista Brasileira de Psiquiatria · doi:10.1590/1516-4446-2013-1255 · Cited by 261
Metadata
- Authors
- Neeleman, J., & Persaud, R.
- Affiliations
- Maudsley Hospital (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Neeleman, J.
- ORCID
- Persaud, R.
- Venue
- British Journal of Medical Psychology
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 1995-06
- Volume
- 68
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 169-178
- ISSN
- 0007-1129 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2061611407
- Cited by
- 117
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 1 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 5 · 2016: 5 · 2015: 5 · 2014: 2 · 2013: 2 · 2012: 5
- FWCI
- 8.66
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- British Journal of Medical Psychology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Wellcome Trust
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Health › Religion, Spirituality, and Psychology
- Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Philosophy › Study and Philosophy of Religion
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Religion and Society Interactions
- Keywords
- religion and mental health, religious beliefs, religion and psychiatry, psychology of religion, religious guilt
- MeSH terms
- Attitude of Health Personnel, Mental Disorders, Humans, Mental Healing, Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, Religion and Psychology
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