11.2 NAVIGATING THE PSYCHOTIC EXPERIENCE FOR A MUSLIM PATIENT

Abstract

The Islamic faith provides community and structure for Muslims’ lifestyle, relationships, and sense of life purpose. The objectives of this presentation are to: 1) demonstrate how clinicians can navigate religious delusions with Muslim patients experiencing psychotic illness (PI), while still bolstering the protective effects of faith and religious community; and 2) discuss the negative impact that the COVID-19 pandemic (CV19P) has had on Muslim communities and the implications this has for Muslim individuals living with PI. The presenter will provide a brief review of the Islamic faith and explain the relationship between religiosity and development of religious delusions in PI. Through review of 2 cases of Muslim adolescents who developed PI, the presenter will discuss how clinicians can navigate religious delusions using techniques of CBT for Psychosis (CBT-p), and how the religious community can be utilized to support recovery from PI. The presenter will also discuss the negative impact that the CV19P has on Muslim individuals living with PI. The religious community provides a central support system for Muslims. The salience model of PI explains how the centricity of faith to the Muslim identity predisposes Muslims with PI to religious delusions. CBT-p provides guidelines by which clinicians can therapeutically navigate religious delusions and still harness the protective effects of religion. The religious community provides a valuable resource for the recovery of Muslim patients experiencing PI. The CV19P has increased the vulnerability of Muslim individuals with psychosis by severely limiting access to support systems in the religious communities. When treating Muslim patients, it is imperative for clinicians to understand the role of faith in the patient’s identity, their sense of purpose, and in their relationships and community. The clinician’s grasp of the patient’s faith and community can be critical to understand the patient’s psychotic experience and to inform the clinician’s therapeutic approach to best suit the patient’s vulnerabilities, strengths, and needs in treatment. Understanding our Muslim patients’ needs and support systems is vital, as Muslim individuals living with PI are more vulnerable now in the midst of the CV19P.