Religious delusions: it’s importance in psychiatry and a case report

Abstract

Religion and spirituality plays a significant role in the lives of many individuals around the world. However, the importance of religion and spirituality to various domains of psychiatry (psychopathology, explanatory models, treatment seeking, treatment adherence, outcome, etc.) has not received much attention. Religious beliefs influence help seeking, diagnosis, treatment, and outcome of the individuals. Religious delusions are on its rise in the new era. Evidence suggests that those with religious delusions take longer to establish service contact, receive more medications, have overall higher symptom scores, and have poor socio-occupational functioning. Those with religious delusion are more likely to receive magical-religious healing, are not satisfied with psychiatric treatment, and are more likely not to adhere to psychiatric treatment. Evidence also suggests that those with religious delusions have poor outcome and more frequently indulge in violence and self-harm. Religious delusions can influence the health beliefs models and consequently lead to poor treatment compliance.