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Biblical themes in psychiatric practice: Implications for psychopathology and psychotherapy

Bible quotations telling them not to worry, can increase the sense of ... Religious Activities: Pilgrimage, participation in religious festivals, religious ...

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Biblical themes in psychiatric practice: Implications for psychopathology and psychotherapy

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    Slide 1:Biblical themes in psychiatric practice: Implications for psychopathology and psychotherapy

    Samuel Pfeifer, M.D., Riehen, Switzerland presented at the first international conference of the Dutch Foundation for Psychiatry and Religion, Amsterdam, March 4th - 6th, 2002

    Slide 2:1. The phenomenology of biblical themes in psychiatric practice. 2. Biblical aspects of causality in Psychiatry. 3. Biblical aspects of the bio-psycho-social model. 4. Therapeutic implications.

    Slide 7:Anxiety and personality disorders

    "Consideration should be given to how patients use their religious belief systems as a vehicle for the expression of neurotic needs and conflicts, in particular to identify patterns of symptomatic and characterological expression with their particular religious phenomenology.“ "The phenomenology of religious psychopathology", W.W.Meissner (1991)

    Slide 9:Demonic causality and exorcism

    Pfeifer S. (1999), Psychopathology 32:252–259 Non-delusional disorders

    Slide 10:Demonic causality and exorcism II

    Causal attributions of mental illness to demonic forces are frequent They occur in many religious cultures (e.g. the “djinn” in the Arabic world, the “zar” in Ethiopia / Israel) Demonic causality has its roots in popular mythology and existential suffering there is no systematic Biblical teaching on the subject.

    Factors contributing to Mental Illness

    Slide 13:Disentanglement of religion and neurosis

    "The orientation of such therapy should not be directed at the destruction of religion nor is the philosophical background one that denies the usefulness of religion. Rather, the general goal is to separate the intrapsychic conflict from its "religious" defense system. Such a goal appears to be in the service of both psychotherapy and religion." Moshe H. Spero 1976

    Indicators of functional spirituality Improves self-confidence (based on confidence in God) Enables mature patterns of relating to others Enhances coping with life’s demands Preserves the awareness and the awe of the ultimate spiritual reality, God. The End Forms of Spiritual Therapy (in the Christian context *) Traditional and common: Prayer, Confession, Communion / Eucharist, Blessing through the Laying of Hands. Transitional Objects and Protection against Evil: Pictures of Saints, Amulets, Holy Cross, protecting objects etc. Religious Activities: Pilgrimage, participation in religious festivals, religious exercises, visiting special healers. Forms of Counseling: „Imagery“, Prophecy, Deliverance, „Rebuking evil forces“ (self or others), Exorcism. *) wide variations in other religious cultures Symptom Relief Personal freedom -- Interpersonal Relations -- Coping Results of “spiritual therapy”

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