The Personal Significance of Religiousness and Spirituality in Patients With Schizophrenia |
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| Authors: | Lars J. Danbolt Paul M⊘ller Lars Lien Knut A. Hestad |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Centre for Psychology of Religion, Innlandet Hospital Trust , Norway;2. The Norwegian School of Theology , Norway;3. Unit of Mental Health Research and Development, Division of Mental Health and Addiction , Vestre Viken Hospital Trust , Norway;4. Institute for Psychiatry, University of Oslo , Norway;5. Centre for Old Age Psychiatry Research, Innlandet Hospital Trust , Norway;6. Department of Psychology , Lillehammer University College , Norway |
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| Abstract: | Religiousness and spirituality were examined in patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders. Features and subjective significance are described, and associations with psychopathological phenomena are analyzed. The majority of the patients reported that religiousness and spirituality serve a vital positive influence in their ability to cope with their disorder. This positive influence was observed less among those patients with more negative symptoms. The spiritual experience of a divine presence was a common part of spirituality for our respondents, independent of psychopathology, whereas more extraordinary spiritual experiences were associated with certain psychopathological symptoms. Religious patients ruminated less than nonreligious patients did on existential issues, especially regarding the meaning of life, which, together with self-acceptance, was among the key existential issues for these patients. |
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