religious delusions in a group of 50 chronic schizophrenic patients
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[email protected],MB, MD, MRWsyd~,JaswantS. Ehopal, MB, MRcXF, John G. Soos, MA, FhD, R.Psych
RiVan&!w Hospital, mrt coquitlm, B.C. Canada, V3C 4J2
Religion was once regardedasoneofthemainaggmvating factors inm.rkal illness. Howeveritisnow ammnlybelievedthattherehaskeenadecline in the religious contmt of the delusions of psychotic patients. Although belief in God is reported by 90% of the North American population, the proporti~ofreligiousbeli~~amongpsychiatrists andpsychologists is lml&luAEr. The possible beneficial effects to psychotic patients of mligionmayeasilybeoverlooked.
Thepmsentstudyatteqkedtoanswer the following questions: first, what pmportionofschiiqhrenicpatientshave religious delusions, second, does religious affiliation significantly affect the prevalence of religious delusions, and third, is religion perceived by patients as beneficial or harmful
Twerrty-seVen male and 23 female chronically ill, schizophrenic subjects were intemiewedusirrg a -Mu. bbaswes ofpsychopathologyonthe PANSSscalewerecbtaindas biel1asadescriptionofindividualsymptomsin allsubjects. Thepatimtst religiousbaclqmmds, beliefs and subjective experiences werehvestigat0L
Out of 50 patients 40% km-e Rcanan Catholics, 30% were Protestants, 24% were iQmstic!s andthere~.~~ 6% franckherreligions.
Overall 42% of subjects reported religious delusions. Religious delusions Wmnm-ec!aIImnammg Pmte&mkthanCatholicsandamongwumenthanmen.
Among all grtxqs 62% of subjects reported that religion was of benefit to themincopingwiththeirillness. Sixteen percent found religion to be a harmful influence intheirlives.