Social Work Today E-Zine

Although psychiatrists are among the least religious physicians, they seem to be the most interested in the religious and spiritual dimensions of their patients, according to survey data published in the American Journal of Psychiatry. For this paper, the researchers examined results from a survey of 100 psychiatrists and 1,044 nonpsychiatrists from across the United States. Respondents were asked their opinions about the relationship between religion and health and about how they address religious and spiritual issues in their clinical practices.

The researchers found that psychiatrists are twice as likely (46% vs. 23%) as other physicians to say that patients often mention spiritual issues. They are also much more likely to both say that it is appropriate to ask patients about spiritual concerns (93% vs. 53%) and that they do inquire (87% vs. 49%). Psychiatrists were almost twice as likely as other physicians to say that the influence of religion on health is equally positive and negative (21% vs. 12%), and were more likely to say that religion/spirituality sometimes causes guilt, anxiety, or other negative emotions that lead to increased patient suffering (82% vs. 44%).

During a clinical encounter, however, psychiatrists appear to be more comfortable talking to their patients about spiritual issues. They are more likely than other physicians to believe it is appropriate for a physician to discuss such issues when a patient brings them up (97% vs. 91%) and to regularly encourage patients in their own religious ideas and experiences (83% vs. 73%). When patients do bring up spiritual concerns, psychiatrists are less likely to try to change the subject (9% vs. 26%), and they are less likely feel uncomfortable discussing such issues or to be worried about offending patients. Psychiatrists rarely pray with patients, however; only 6% say they do so sometimes, compared with 20% of other physicians.

The results "surprised us," says Curlin. "Among physicians in general, those who are less religious are generally less likely to believe it is appropriate to discuss spiritual issues," he notes. "Yet we find that psychiatrists are at the same time the least religious physicians and the physicians most comfortable addressing patients' spiritual concerns."

— Source: University of Chicago Medical Center