Chapter 5 - Chronic Mental and Neurocognitive Disorders

Abstract

This chapter examines the relationship among religion, chronic mental disorders (schizophrenia and bipolar disorder), and major neurocognitive disorder (called “dementia” before DSM-5). The connection between religiosity and chronic mental disorder is a tricky one, because chronic mental disorders are often manifested by religious symptoms (delusions and hallucinations), and yet religion is also often used to cope with the distress caused by psychotic symptoms and associated life stressors. The relationship with major neurocognitive disorder is also not straightforward. Progressive dementia may interfere with a person’s ability to experience and express religious beliefs, while religious involvement may also prevent the onset or slow the progression of these disorders through psychological, social, behavioral, and physiological mechanisms.