title: [A clinical method for the investigation of spirituality].
abstract: The purpose of the Religion Psychology Department of the National Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology, Budapest, was to provide hospital care and cure for psychiatric patients belonging to different religions and spiritual movements. Modern psychiatric treatment integrates the three main dimensions of psychiatry: the biological, the sociotherapeutic and the psychotherapeutic. To this we have added a fourth field involving the spiritual life. The department was organized by therapeutic community principles. At the beginning our work was made almost impossible by an extreme confusion of worldviews and theological concepts which hindered clients' communication with each other as well as the work of sociotherapy and psychotherapy. Thus it became unavoidable to elaborate a common language and value system. This task was accomplished by searching for common denominators. We traced back most problems to two main factors. The first had to do with the essence of humanness, with the main driving force of the human personality. The second related to the final value system by which human actions are judged. We located the first factor in the human aspiration for development in both the inner and outer life and in the need for community. In our department mutual help, the promotion of development and usefulness for the community came to be regarded the standards of behavior. We used these standards as coordinates in our discussions. These made possible the work of psychotherapy as well as life in the therapeutic community.
authors.affiliation: Az OPNI Vallaslelektan Pszichiatriai Osztalyanak volt vezetoje, Budapest, Hungary, E-mail: sulefdr@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Ferenc
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Süle
mesh_terms: D000047:Academies and Institutes; D002835:Christianity / Q000523:psychology*; D003210:Concept Formation; D006801:Humans; D006814:Hungary; D008499:Medical Records / Q000592:standards; D009229:Mythology / Q000523:psychology; D016487:Parenting / Q000523:psychology; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000639:trends; D028723:Personhood; D011570:Psychiatry / Q000379:methods* / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000639:trends; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards / Q000639:trends; D012067:Religion; D012069:Religion and Psychology; D012945:Social Values; D029181:Spirituality