Varieties of Religious and Spiritual Struggles by Type of Mental Disorder: A Qualitative Approach.
Joke C Van Nieuw Amerongen-Meeuse, Arjan W Braam, Gerlise Westerbroek, Eva Ouwehand, Christa Anbeek, Hanneke Schaap-Jonker
Psychopathology January 1, 2024 DOI: 10.1159/000531027 via PubMed
Summary
Religious and spiritual struggles appear in distinct patterns across different psychiatric diagnoses. In a qualitative study of 34 patients in two clinical mental health care institutions, those with depression experienced isolation, guilt, and a lack of positive religious experiences. Patients with anxiety or cluster C disorders showed uncertainty toward God and reluctance to engage religiously. People with psychotic disorders had intense religious experiences but mistrusted health professionals and were reticent to share them. Bipolar patients struggled to interpret their experiences and felt both drawn to and distanced from religion.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Qualitative study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 34 |
| Population | Day clinical and clinical mental health care patients in two institutions |
| Keywords | Diagnoses Existential abandonment Qualitative approach Religious beliefs Religious/spiritual struggles |
| Key finding | Religious and spiritual struggles show distinct patterns across six diagnostic groups, with common existential questions appearing across all groups. |
Abstract
Little is known about types of religious/spiritual (R/S) struggles with regard to various diagnostic groups in mental health care. The current qualitative study aims to give an impression of R/S struggles as observed in six diagnostic groups in clinical mental health care. Inductive thematic content analysis was applied to 34 semi-structured interviews. The interviews were performed among (day) clinical mental health care patients in two institutions. Among patients with depression, a lack of positive R/S experiences, isolation, and feelings of guilt and shame were present. Those with cluster C and anxiety disorders reported uncertainty toward God and faith and R/S reticence. Psychotic disorders were accompanied by impressive R/S experiences, reticence to share these, and mistrust toward health professionals. Patients with bipolar disorder struggled with the interpretation of their R/S experiences and with both attraction and distance toward R/S. Cluster B patients showed ambivalence and anger toward God and others, and some reported existential tiredness. Patients with autism mentioned doubts and troubles with religious beliefs. In all groups, many patients had questions like "why?" or "where is God?" R/S struggles to some extent may be the language of the illness. Mental health professionals are recommended to take this into account, taking heed of the content of individual R/S struggles and considering using R/S interventions.