{"title":"Christianity and mental health","authors":"A. Gray, C. Cook","doi":"10.1093/med/9780198846833.003.0011","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/med/9780198846833.003.0011","url":null,"abstract":"This chapter summarizes the impact of the Christian faith on mental health and illness. It provides an overview of the history of the Christian church founded in the teachings of Jesus Christ, and the key beliefs and distinctions from other monotheistic religions. It considers the different beliefs and practices of the main Christian denominations: Catholic, Protestant, and Orthodox. The church has a long and ongoing history of involvement in health care, and churches are at their best healing communities offering community, prayer, and, rituals such as Baptism and the Eucharist. Prospective studies have found that elements of Christian faith and practice benefit those with psychotic disorders and depression, increase happiness and resilience, and decrease the risk of substance abuse or suicide. Although teaching that over-spiritualizes or discourages timely interaction with health care and consistent treatment concordance is sometimes harmful, the evidence suggests that Christianity is generally a positive influence on mental health.","PeriodicalId":377096,"journal":{"name":"Spirituality and Mental Health Across Cultures","volume":"30 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"124966661","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Mechanisms: Religion’s impact on mental health","authors":"H. Koenig","doi":"10.1093/med/9780198846833.003.0009","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/med/9780198846833.003.0009","url":null,"abstract":"This chapter examines the genetic, psychological, social, behavioural, environmental, individual-level, and biological pathways that may help explain the relationship between religion/spirituality (R/S) and mental health. I use spirituality interchangeably with religion, since my use of the term ‘religion’ goes far beyond institutional religion—that is, it includes individual beliefs, practices, and intrinsic commitments related to the Transcendent. No doubt, there are many different ways that R/S might influence mental health in either positive or negative ways. Not only are there likely to be many pathways of direct influence, but also indirect effects that may be difficult to appreciate unless a comprehensive approach is taken. First, I briefly review research on the relationship between R/S and mental health, and then, having established a relationship, attempt to explain it by the multiple pathways noted above.","PeriodicalId":377096,"journal":{"name":"Spirituality and Mental Health Across Cultures","volume":"1 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"115596190","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Principles and practices of Buddhism in relationship to mental health","authors":"M. Huxter, L. Pizutti","doi":"10.1093/med/9780198846833.003.0014","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/med/9780198846833.003.0014","url":null,"abstract":"This chapter explores how the Buddhist framework can assist clinicians in treating mental health suffering. It highlights the Buddha’s ‘four noble truths’ and the ‘eight-fold path’ as frameworks for clinical applications. It describes the distinguishing features of the calm and insight aspects of meditation, their indications, and how they can be used in clinical presentations. It also describes mindfulness from a Buddhist perspective and compares this ancient traditional perspective with contemporary approaches to mindfulness. It also underscores the importance of cultivating four relationship qualities, known as the ‘four divine abodes’ (loving-kindness, compassion, appreciative joy, and equanimity). These qualities help to balance mindfulness, harmonize intra- and inter-personal relationships, and support the therapeutic endeavour. Finally, it provides some reflections on the possible benefits of using a Buddhist framework and Buddhist practices in the delivery of mental health services.","PeriodicalId":377096,"journal":{"name":"Spirituality and Mental Health Across Cultures","volume":"44 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"116607366","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Religious and spiritual struggles and mental health: Implications for clinical practice","authors":"K. Pargament, Julie J. Exline","doi":"10.1093/med/9780198846833.003.0024","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/med/9780198846833.003.0024","url":null,"abstract":"This chapter reviews the growing literature on religious and spiritual (R/S) struggles and their implications for clinical practice, with a focus on people with psychiatric problems. The empirical literature indicates that R/S struggles: (a) take a variety of forms that reflect tensions and conflicts around the sacred; (b) are not uncommon among people with psychological problems; (c) are robust predictors of poorer mental health; (d) may be a cause and/or effect of psychological problems; and offer the potential for positive psychological growth and transformation, depending on how they are understood and handled. Practical recommendations are then offered to help psychiatrists draw on basic clinical skills to assess and address R/S struggles in treatment. Specifically, this chapter considers how practitioners can help patients name and normalize their struggles, accept and reflect on these conflicts, and access R/S resources that offer potential resolutions to their struggles.","PeriodicalId":377096,"journal":{"name":"Spirituality and Mental Health Across Cultures","volume":"23 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"116721952","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Sexual Minorities and Spirituality","authors":"D. Bhugra, C. Watson, Susham Gupta","doi":"10.1093/med/9780198846833.003.0010","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/med/9780198846833.003.0010","url":null,"abstract":"For some lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) individuals, organized religion can sometimes be a major source of stress and difficulty in identity formation and acceptance whereas others may find solace in it. Belonging to a religion and following it are different aspects of an individual, and often an important part of the culture they have been brought up in. One of the micro-identities for the individual is religion and associated rites, rituals, and taboos. Multiple micro-identities can play a major role in the smooth functioning of an individual. ‘Coming out’ is a process of self-validation and religious views of the individual and those around them can sometimes create major difficulties. Clinicians need to be cognizant of social and religious attitudes of their patients to their own sexuality and also to specific stages of coming out. It is likely that religion and spirituality can be both obstructive or facilitatory for LGBT individuals depending upon a number of factors including homophobia or transphobia related to strong religious views. Various tenets of religions are described briefly in this chapter and their attitudes to alternate sexuality or sexual variations referred to. An attempt is made to advise clinicians and other mental health professionals on how to engage with LGBT individuals. Spirituality can play a major role in some people’s lives even when they do not follow specific organized religions.","PeriodicalId":377096,"journal":{"name":"Spirituality and Mental Health Across Cultures","volume":"9 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"131814456","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Hinduism","authors":"M. Keshavan, B. Gangadhar, A. Pandurangi","doi":"10.1093/med/9780198846833.003.0013","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/med/9780198846833.003.0013","url":null,"abstract":"Ancient Hindu scriptures such as the Upanishads and the Bhagavad-Gita (the Gita) offer important insights to the mind and mental health in ways that are complementary to those derived from Western psychology. In the Gita, the mind and body are viewed in non-dualistic terms; mental health is defined not merely as the absence of ill health, but by the positive attributes of happiness independent of external gratification. Psychopathology is viewed as resulting from too much or misplaced attachment and a faulty concept of self leading to an excessive focus on the self. The prescription for such affliction includes unattached actions, accurate awareness of self and awakening mindfulness. Many parallels may be drawn between the Gita and the principles of Western psychotherapeutic models such as cognitive and metacognitive therapies. However, apart from insights into psychopathology and its treatment, the Gita sheds light on enhancing positive mental health as well. The Gita embodies several modern concepts from positive psychology, such as flow, intrinsic motivation, reappraisal of the self-concept, and the development of compassion. It is proposed that psychotherapeutic insights from the Gita and other traditional Hindu scriptures offer a comprehensive step-wise psychobiological meta-cognitive approach to prevention, intervention, and promotion of well-being. Comprehensive and culturally compatible psychotherapeutic models integrating Eastern and Western psychotherapeutic models merit attention.","PeriodicalId":377096,"journal":{"name":"Spirituality and Mental Health Across Cultures","volume":"20 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"130753714","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The key role of spirituality in positive psychiatry and psychology","authors":"S. Hauck, C. Cloninger","doi":"10.1093/med/9780198846833.003.0022","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/med/9780198846833.003.0022","url":null,"abstract":"The field of positive psychology and psychiatry has the goal of helping people to achieve greater happiness, fostering the factors that allow individuals, communities, and societies to thrive. It proposes a hierarchy of positive psychological character strengths, composed of 24 specific human qualities, including spirituality. Spiritually oriented well-being therapies are a promising and much-needed field. The bio-psycho-social model, developed by Cloninger and colleagues, is an empirically based model that considers the importance of spirituality in the human constitution and development, providing a systematic way to promote health as an integrated state, rather than merely the absence of disease or infirmity. Personality development depends on the creative process of integration through three complex adaptive systems of learning and memory, involving associative conditioning of habits, intentional self-control, and creative processes of self-awareness. The physical, mental, and spiritual aspects are interdependent, and must be addressed jointly aiming at a healthy, happy, and good life.","PeriodicalId":377096,"journal":{"name":"Spirituality and Mental Health Across Cultures","volume":"258 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"116817945","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The light and the bulb: The psychology and neurophysiology of mystical experience","authors":"E. Cardeña, Lena Lindström","doi":"10.1093/med/9780198846833.003.0007","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/med/9780198846833.003.0007","url":null,"abstract":"Throughout history, people have described alterations of consciousness in which they experienced a sense of transcendence, being part of a much larger unity, sometimes encompassing the whole universe, or of being pure awareness. These experiences have been foundational for many religious and spiritual practices, albeit they have sometimes been treated as suspect or outright psycho- and or neuro-pathological. This chapter defines various aspects of the self, self-transcendence, and mystical experiences (ME), discusses the relation of ME with other constructs, its prevalence, psychological and demographic correlates, and its relation to mental health, reviews brain-imaging research on it, and concludes with a discussion of its ontological implications. By doing so, it seeks to give an overview of both enlightenment experiences, ‘the light,’ and the underlying neurophysiological processes, ‘the bulb’.","PeriodicalId":377096,"journal":{"name":"Spirituality and Mental Health Across Cultures","volume":"115 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"133398287","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Religion, spirituality, and mental health: Setting the scene","authors":"A. Moreira-Almeida, D. Bhugra","doi":"10.1093/med/9780198846833.003.0002","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/med/9780198846833.003.0002","url":null,"abstract":"This chapter starts defining spirituality as a transcendent realm of reality, which is considered sacred, and religion as the institutional or communal aspect of that spirituality. Then, it explores whether and how issues relating to religion and spirituality (R/S) are relevant to the mental health of individuals. A large body of evidence is presented and discussed showing that R/S remain and probably will continue to be relevant in the contemporary world, and that R/S have marked and usually positive effects on mental health. Ethical concerns regarding approaching R/S in clinical care are addressed, arguing that this approach must be patient-centred. An evidence-based, and ethically sound, bio-psycho-socio-spiritual approach is proposed. In summary, in respect to the evidence available and the R/S beliefs, behaviours and values of most of the world’s population, it is not only appropriate but a scientific and ethical duty to integrate R/S into mental health research, training, prevention, and clinical practice.","PeriodicalId":377096,"journal":{"name":"Spirituality and Mental Health Across Cultures","volume":"33 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"123736657","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Principles of integrating religion and spirituality in mental health care and the World Psychiatric Association’s position statement","authors":"C. Cook, A. Moreira-Almeida","doi":"10.1093/med/9780198846833.003.0019","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/med/9780198846833.003.0019","url":null,"abstract":"Research shows that spirituality and religion are important influences upon mental well-being and may play an important part in recovery from mental disorders. The addressing of these concerns in clinical practice raises important questions concerning good practice and professional boundaries, which various national psychiatric associations, and the World Psychiatric Association (WPA) have addressed in part by way of professional guidelines and policies. This chapter presents a commentary on, and discusses the practical implications for clinical practice, teaching, research, and public health of the seven proposals made in the WPA position statement on religion and psychiatry. For these proposals to have a positive impact upon clinical practice it is important that knowledge and awareness of them should be enhanced globally amongst psychiatrists and other mental health professionals, and that they become a focus of constructive and critical professional debate.","PeriodicalId":377096,"journal":{"name":"Spirituality and Mental Health Across Cultures","volume":"27 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"130606064","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}