Religiosity/Spirituality and Mental Health: Psychiatric Staff’s Attitudes and Behaviors

Abstract

Along with the bio-psycho-social model in patient-centered care, religiosity/spirituality (ReS) receives increasing attention from medical communities. Correspondingly, healthcare professionals’ perspectives and their attitudes towards ReS receive increased attention, as their attitudes play a crucial role in the therapeutic process. In this context a nationwide study was conducted at Ger- man university hospitals and confessional clinics to find out what kind of attitudes psychiatrists and nurses have towards ReS in clinical settings. The respondents generally regarded dealing with religious/spiritual issues as appropriate, and also rated themselves to be ready to integrate ReS into therapies. Otherwise, most of the respondents underlined professional neutrality as preventing factor for an integration.