Feelings of spirituality and religiousness are very prevalent among the mentally ill, but psychiatrists are rarely aware of the importance and value of these feelings as a mediating force for coping with mental illness. This book was the first to specifically cover the impact of religion and spirituality on mental illness.

Although medicine is practised in a secular setting, religious and spiritual issues have an impact on patient perspectives regarding their health and the management of any disorders that may afflict them. This is especially true in psychiatry, as feelings of spirituality and religiousness are very prevalent among the mentally ill. Clinicians are rarely aware of the importance of religion and understand little of its value as a mediating force for coping with mental illness. This book addresses various issues concerning mental illness in psychiatry: the relation of religious issues to mental health; the tension between a theoretical approach to problems and psychiatric approaches; the importance of addressing these varying approaches in patient care and how to do so; and differing ways to approach Christian, Muslim and Buddhist patients.

"This important volume on religion and psychiatry, intended specifically for clinicians, has a focus that differentiates it from others on the topic designed for clergy....[A] rich, useful resource. This insightful guide to the clinical significance of religious language and behavior in psychiatric contexts will be valuable for medical students and mental health professionals, along with pastoral counselors and graduate students in theology and psychology." --Choice