title: Chaplains' medical approach to psychiatric patients.
abstract: Chaplains' understanding of people's psychiatric and medical problems may aid them in dealing with people's spiritual problems. However, exploratory interviews and observations of chaplains and inpatients at a VA psychiatric facility indicate that chaplains take a medical model perspective with patients, often attempting to treat patients' psychiatric problems rather than focusing on their reliigious needs. Chaplains avoid one-on-one religious discussions despite the importance of these conversations to patients. Discussed are implications for the utilization of health services and for the formation of treatment teams.
authors.affiliation: Goucher College, Towson, Maryland.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gulko