Recognition of psychopathology with religious content by clergy members: a case vignette study |
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| Authors: | Annemarie Noort Arjan Braam Arthur van Gool Aartjan Beekman |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Department Research , Development &2. Training , Yulius GGZ, Mathenesserlaan 202, Rotterdam , 3014 HH Netherlands mailcuran@gmail.com;4. Emergency Psychiatry, Altrecht GGZ , Lange Nieuwstraat, Utrecht , 3512PG Netherlands;5. Training , Yulius GGZ, Mathenesserlaan 202, Rotterdam , 3014 HH Netherlands;6. Department of Psychiatry , VUmc and GGZ inGeest , A.J. Ernststraat 887, Amsterdam , 1081HL Netherlands |
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| Abstract: | Clergy members (CMs) frequently offer support and counselling for people with mental health problems. The current study aims to obtain insight into the ability among CMs to recognise psychopathology and need for psychiatric treatment. A random sample of CMs (N?=?143) and a control sample of mental health professionals (MHPs, N?=?73), were compared as to their evaluations of four vignettes. CMs considered the psychiatric states to be related to religious or spiritual problems to a similar degree as they did for the non-psychiatric states. Sensitivity of CMs with regard to the need of psychiatric care for the psychiatric states was modest (66%) and differed significantly from MHPs (96%). Specificity of the CMs was 89%, which was significantly lower than the MHPs (97%). The CMs did recognise psychopathology with religious content but clearly to a lower extent than MHPs. Requests by CMs for education about recognising psychopathology may be considered as justified. |
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| Keywords: | psychosis vignettes religious spiritual clergy |
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