Religion and Spirituality in Clinical Practice

Cook, Christopher C.H.

doi:10.1192/apt.bp.114.013276

Religion and Spirituality in Clinical Practice

Cook, Christopher C.H.

Authors

Reverend Professor Christopher Cook c.c.h.cook@durham.ac.uk
PGR Student Doctor of Philosophy

Abstract

Spirituality and religion have assumed importance in psychiatric practice in recent years because of both a growing evidence base and the desire of patients that such matters should be better addressed as an aspect of their care. However, there has been controversy regarding interpretation of the evidence base and issues of good practice, notably about defining appropriate professional boundaries. A sensitive and patient-focused clinical enquiry is therefore needed to discover whether and how spiritual/religious concerns are important to patients and, if they are, how they might most appropriately be addressed in treatment. Many of the concerns of patients and professionals regarding spirituality overlap with the recovery agenda and so are easily addressed implicitly and without need to impose the language of spirituality or religion. However, for some patients, transcendent concerns that are not a part of this agenda are easily overlooked.

Citation

Cook, C. C. (2015). Religion and Spirituality in Clinical Practice. BJPsych Advances, 21(1), 42-50. https://doi.org/10.1192/apt.bp.114.013276

Journal Article Type	Article
Online Publication Date	Jan 2, 2018
Publication Date	Jan 1, 2015
Deposit Date	Apr 9, 2015
Publicly Available Date	Jun 30, 2015
Journal	BJPsych Advances
Print ISSN	2056-4678
Electronic ISSN	2056-4686
Publisher	Royal College of Psychiatrists
Peer Reviewed	Peer Reviewed
Volume	21
Issue	1
Pages	42-50
DOI	https://doi.org/10.1192/apt.bp.114.013276

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Copyright Statement
This is an author-produced electronic version of an article accepted for publication in BJPsych Advances. The definitive publisher-authenticated version is available online at http://apt.rcpsych.org/.