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Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

Imran Mushtaq
Affiliation:
Sp-CAHMS, Eaglestone Centre, Standing Way, Milton Keynes MK6 5AZ, email: imranmushtaq@doctors.org.uk
Mohammad Adnan Hafeez
Affiliation:
Greater Manchester West Mental Health NHS Trust
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Abstract

Type
The columns
Creative Commons
Creative Common License - CCCreative Common License - BY
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY) license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists, 2008

Koenig's message (Psychiatric Bulletin, June 2008, 32, 201–203) is very clear for psychiatrists that they should respect patients’ religious beliefs and a sensible way to address this is through time investment in taking a spiritual history, respecting and supporting patients’ beliefs. Challenging beliefs and referrals to clergy should be welcomed but praying with patients is highly controversial and should be treated with caution.

There is a fine line between religiosity and religious conviction becoming a part of a complex delusional system. In clinical experience some patients are not religious prior to the onset of their mental illness. For such patients, becoming religious may be indicative of a relapse of their mental illness.

Religion and psychiatry are usually considered as two totally different ways of healing. A number of UK, US and Canadian studies confirm that psychiatrists are less likely to be religious in general, and are more likely to consider themselves spiritual rather than religious. Religious physicians are less willing than non-religious physicians to refer patients to psychiatrists (Reference Curlin, Odell and LawrenceCurlin et al, 2007). The Australian experience is not different either (D’Souza et al, 2006).

References

Curlin, F. A., Odell, S.V., Lawrence, R. E., et al (2007) The relationship between psychiatry and religion among US physicians. Psychiatric Services, 58, 11931198.Google Scholar
D'Souza, R. & George, K. (2006) Spirituality, religion and psychiatry: its application to clinical practice. Australasian Psychiatry, 14, 408412.Google Scholar
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