title: The importance of taking a religious and spiritual history.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to explain the reasons for taking a religious and spiritual history, which is often neglected by psychiatrists, and to introduce some religious and spiritual assessment tools to assist those psychiatrists who feel inexperienced in this area.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Religious and spiritual assessment enhances quality of patient care. Training programs for psychiatry registrars need to include modules on religious and spiritual assessment of patients.
authors.affiliation: Psychogeriatrician, Koropiko Mental Health Services for Older People, Middlemore Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand Vahid.Payman@middlemore.co.nz.
authors.forename: Vahid
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Payman
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D044362:Australasia; D004493:Education / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D008487:Medical History Taking; D005791:Patient Care / Q000592:standards; D011570:Psychiatry / Q000193:education*; D029181:Spirituality; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: assessment tools; religion; spirituality