title: Asceticism: creative spiritual practice or pathological pursuit?
abstract: Asceticism in a religious context refers to a voluntary and sustained practice of self-denial in which immediate or sensual gratifications are renounced in order to attain a higher spiritual state (Kaelber 1987). Virtually all of the major world religions have within them a way in which the individual, through ascetic practices, can strive to achieve a more thorough absorption in the sacred. Although many psychiatrists might consider any ascetic or religious practice to be pathological, others take a more neutral view by emphasizing that religious or mystical practice can also be adaptive and creative (Group for the Advancement of Psychiatry 1976).
authors.affiliation: New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York 10032.
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Fallon
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Horwath
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005196:Family Therapy; D005215:Fasting; D006760:Hospitalization; D006778:Hospitals, Psychiatric; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D012069:Religion and Psychology; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000628:therapy*