Religion and Spirituality in Psychiatry [Paperback]

This book was the first to specifically address the impact of religion and spirituality on mental illness.Feelings of spirituality and religiousness are very prevalent among the mentally ill, but psychiatrists are rarely aware of the importance and value of these feelings as a mediating force for coping with mental illness. This is the first book to specifically cover the impact of religion and spirituality on mental illness.Feelings of spirituality and religiousness are very prevalent among the mentally ill, but psychiatrists are rarely aware of the importance and value of these feelings as a mediating force for coping with mental illness. This is the first book to specifically cover the impact of religion and spirituality on mental illness.Although medicine is practiced in a secular setting, religious and spiritual issues have an impact on patient perspectives regarding their health and the management of any disorders that may afflict them. This is especially true in psychiatry, as feelings of spirituality and religiousness are very prevalent among the mentally ill. Clinicians are rarely aware of the importance of religion and understand little of its value as a mediating force for coping with mental illness. This monograph addresses various issues concerning mental illness in psychiatry: the relation of religious issues to mental health; the tension between a theoretical approach to problems and psychiatric approaches; the importance of addressing these varying approaches in patient care and how to do so; and differing ways to approach Christian, Muslim, and Buddhist patients. This is the first book to specifically cover the impact of religion and spirituality on mental illness.1. Introduction, key concepts Philippe Huguelet and Harold G. Koenig; 2. Historical considerations Samuel B. Thielman; 3. Theological perspective on the care for patients with psychiatric disorders Joel James Shuman; 4. The Bible: relevant issues for clinicians Armando R. Favazza; 5. Religl3>