Original scientific paper
RELIGIOUS CHARACTERISTICS OF ROMANIAN PHYSICIANS: TOWARDS AN INTEGRATIVE SUPPORT OF RELIGIOUS PSYCHIATRIC PATIENTS
Speranta-Giulia Herea
; University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Grigore T. Popa", Iasi, Romania; "Socola" Institute of Psychiatry, Romania, Iasi, Romania
Roxana Chirita
; University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Grigore T. Popa", Iasi, Romania; "Socola" Institute of Psychiatry, Romania, Iasi, Romania
Gabriela Elena Chele
; University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Grigore T. Popa", Iasi, Romania; "Socola" Institute of Psychiatry, Romania, Iasi, Romania
Andreea Silvana Szalontay
; University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Grigore T. Popa", Iasi, Romania; "Socola" Institute of Psychiatry, Romania, Iasi, Romania
Cristanel Stefanescu
; University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Grigore T. Popa", Iasi, Romania; "Socola" Institute of Psychiatry, Romania, Iasi, Romania
Abstract
Background: The growing closeness between psychiatry and theology may impact positively the healthcare of the religious
psychiatric patients. However, some significant divergences regarding the health care religious methods and the concept and believe
in the demonic possession of psychiatric patients continue to shape the relationships between these professionals. While the religions
generally admit the demonic or spirit possession as real, the current views of physicians and psychiatric patients are just taken for
granted and therefore demands new investigations. In this study, we have performed a targeted survey on this subject.
Subjects and methods: The survey was based on a questionnaire addressed to 216 psychiatrists and 201 non-psychiatrists, and
408 psychiatric patients. For physicians, the questionnaire was randomized sent to hospitals in Romania. The patients received the
questionnaire on paper. Except for patients with dementia and those in the acute phase of a psychiatric illness, all psychiatric
disorders available at the time of the investigation were randomized included in the study.
Results: The results showed that about 20% of physicians and 60% of psychiatric patients considered that demonic possession
might be associated to a psychiatric illness, while the later would like a priest in the therapeutic team (89.4%, CI: 0.86-0.92). In
addition, the psychiatrists declared a lower attendance of religious services, although the majority would accept a priest in the
therapeutic team (p>0.05, CI: 0.61-0.70).
Conclusion: These findings invite to a more practical collaboration between psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, and
theologians/priests with training in psychiatry for a more integrative mental care of the religious psychiatric patients. The results
call as well for more efficient practical solutions for psychiatric patients, raise awareness towards the personal religious needs and
critical beliefs of such patients, and finally might narrow the gap of the controversy between psychiatrists, non-psychiatrists,
psychologists and theologians/priests on the addressed issues.
Keywords
mental healthcare; religion/spirituality; demonic possession; hospitalized psychiatric patients
Hrčak ID:
272673
URI
Publication date:
8.2.2022.
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