Psychiatric ethics & religion?

Question

If a medical doctor sees a patient with, let's say, a broken arm and while treating the injury notices signs that the patient has another medical condition that may be even more serious, the ethics of his profession would demand that he at least mention this to the patient and suggest treatment for that as well. No one would consider a doctor who would do otherwise a "good doctor."

Why then are people in the mental health indusrty unwilling to tackle the mental illness of religion? Even the accepted definition of delusion excepts "religious faith" as delusion, but any other acceptance of unreality as reality can be considered delusional.

My question then is this: If the mental health industry is ignoring one of the most wide-spread mental illnesses out there, aren't they comitting a serious breach of both ethics and common decency?

I'd like to hear from mental health professionals please, not wandering jesus freaks :)

Answer 1

Religion is not a disease. If people want to believe in G-d or Jesus or whatever, that's their right. You have no right to insult them and call their beliefs a "disease". If you want to talk about your opinions about people, voice them as opinions- not fact. You're just being rude and immature- not intelligent and full of wisdom like you seem to be "delusional" about.

Answer 2

Reality is subjective. What is more real, what is observed while awake or what is observed during a dream? The brain functions are identical, each event is observed and remembered. Is red always red, even if the light shining on it makes it appear orange?

There are a lot of mentally and emotionally "healthy" people who ascribe to religion. Religion itself is not a source of illness, but a focal point for those who are ill, something upon which they can fixate. Mental illnesses can be perceived by the one with the illness as a persecution, a flaw, something along those lines and since our mental faculties are our awareness, our "self", then this persecution or flaw can only come from the source of ourselves, or God.

Similarly, it's not alcohol that makes one an alcoholic, it is some sort of predisposition or other variable coupled with the alcohol. Some people can drink it without developing an addiction and others can't. It's a legal substance, and religion is a valid practice, even if it presents ideas we find arcaic or delusional.

Answer 3

It has been shown that religion is actually beneficial to mental health. It provides structure to people who have trouble providing their own structure. It provides hope for the hopeless. It isn't for everyone but from most of the religious people I've met, not too many people are suffering mentally from being a believer.

Not to mention that it is taught when treating mental patients to always take into consideration culture and religious issues.

I think you are going a little off the deep end on this one.

Answer 4

Your question, or statement is degrading to patients of mental illness. To suggest that religion is to blame for serious diagnosis' such as schizophrenia, or bipolar is ignorant on your part.

I do however agree that more MD's should treat the "whole" patient. That would be the ideal scenario, but since money makes the world go round, instead of decency and compassion, I guess we won't see that happening. We are moving farther and farther away.............