Working with Spiritual Issues of Adults in Clinical Practice

Abstract

<P>Growing evidence suggests that religion and spirituality have beneficial effects on health. People use spirituality for healing of illness, psychological growth, and self-actualization. A variety of spiritual problems may arise spontaneously or during intense practice. At the acute stage, the presentation of these conditions can resemble mental disorders, causing disruption in psychosocial functioning. If properly recognized and treated, these experiences can be integrated into the person’s life and result in personal growth and healing. Pathological labeling or misdiagnosis may result in inappropriate treatment and thereby intensify distress. As various spiritual practices are rapidly gaining popularity worldwide, the incidence of spiritual problems seen in the treatment is likely to increase. The importance of understanding spiritual problems and of developing comprehensive and effective treatment approaches cannot be overemphasized.</P> <H4>ABOUT THE AUTHORS</H4> <P>Dr. Yang is assistant clinical professor, Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Francisco, and attending psychiatrist, San Francisco General Hospital, San Francisco, CA. Dr. Lukoff is professor of psychiatry, Department of Humanistic and Transpersonal Psychology, Saybrook Graduate School, Petaluma CA. Dr. Lu is professor of clinical psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Francisco.</P> <P>Address reprint requests to: C. Paul Yang, MD, PhD, Department of Psychiatry, Unit 7C, San Francisco General Hospital, 1001 Potrero Ave, San Francisco, CA 94110; or e-mail <a href="mailto:cpyang_99@yahoo.com">cpyang_99@yahoo.com</a>.</P> <P>The authors disclosed no relevant financial relationships.</P>