Frequency and severity of religious delusions in Christian patients with psychosis.
The influence of religious activity on the severity of religious delusions is unclear. This study examined whether Catholic and Protestant patients experienced more religious delusions than non-religiously affiliated patients. We also explored whether the severity of religious delusions, according to the Religious Delusions item on the Scale for the Assessment of Positive Symptoms (SAPS), was associated with the amount of religious activity. The Protestants experienced more religious delusions than Catholics and those without religious affiliation. Although when the groups were combined, patients who were more religiously active experienced more severe religious delusions (n=133), there was no difference in the severity of religious delusions across the non-religious, Catholic and Protestant groups. Religious affiliation may influence the frequency of religious delusions, particularly in Protestant individuals, but religious affiliation appears to be independent of religious delusion severity.
Getz
G E
GE
Bipolar and Psychotic Disorders Research Program, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45267-0559, USA. getzg@email.uc.edu
Fleck
D E
DE
Strakowski
S M
SM
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002410:Catholicism; D002835:Christianity; D003702:Delusions / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D012069:Religion and Psychology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index