RESIDENT: Application of Psychospiritual Approaches in Mental Health Care

Learning Objectives

1. Study interview questions to assess a patient’s spirituality;
2. Understand the psychospiritual approach to eating disorders, psychosis, and adjustment disorder; and
3. Delineate spiritual experiences from psychiatric experiences.

Literature References

1) Post, S. G. et al. (2007). The spiritual history in outpatient practice: Attitudes and practices of attending psychiatrists. The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 195(4), 368-373.
2) Curlin, F. A. et al. (2008). Religion, spirituality, and medicine: Psychiatrists' and other physicians' differing observations, interpretations, and clinical approaches. The American Journal of Psychiatry, 165(12), 1702-1706.

Abstract

Integrating the assessment of spirituality into psychiatric interviewing has earned increasing interest for it’s impact on rapport building, diagnostic clarity and treatment course. There is a lack of routine education in relevant interview skills to assist psychiatrists in comfortably incorporating the spiritual domain in patient assessments. To address this, a literature review was conducted analyzing validated tools and methodologies developed by mental health practitioners in assessing spirituality during clinical interviews. There is emphasis on sensitive and culturally competent questioning techniques to navigate the spiritual territory of patient’s lives respectfully yet pragmatically. Mainly, methods focus on open-ended enquiries and respecting diverse religious and non-religious worldviews in order to elicit meaningful insights into the interplay of patient’s spirituality with their psychiatric presentation. Validated instruments
such as the FICA Spiritual History Tool and HOPE questions are discussed. Lastly, findings are contextualized as practical applications and clinical implications. Overall, the largely positive impact of assessing spirituality lends itself to greater treatment adherence, therapeutic alliances, and satisfaction in care.