The Prevalence of Mental Disorders among Clergy in São Paulo, Brazil

Abstract

To investigate their mental disorders prevalence, the Self-Report Psychiatric Screening Questionnaire (SRQ-20) and the Religious Life Inventory were mailed to 750 religious ministers. From the 207 who answered, 40 were randomly chosen and invited to a diagnostic interview using the Schedules for Clinical Assessment in Neuropsychiatry (SCAN) and an open interview using the Severity of Psychosocial Stressors Scale (DSM-III-R Axis IV). During the month before the interview, mental disorders prevalence was 12.5%, and 47% received a psychiatric diagnosis when the lifetime period was considered. Their main diagnoses were Depressive Disorders (16.4%), Sleep Disorders (12.9%) and Anxiety Disorders (9.4%). Intrinsic religious orientation was associated with positive mental health, and quest orientation scores were significantly higher in the group with a larger probability of mental disorder symptoms and diagnoses. Financial problems, problems with church members and with other pastors, leadership conflicts, marital difficulties, doctrinal problems in the church, and overwork were the main identified stressors.