The Influence of Childhood Religiosity on Delusions in Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder

Keywords

Subject classifications

• 0621: Psychology
• 0347: Mental health
• 0633: Cognitive psychology
• 0384: Behavioral psychology

Cite this work

Complex mental illnesses like schizophrenia and bipolar disorder often cause life-altering and dangerous states of mind (Anderson-Schmidt et al., 2019). Despite religion being a dominant theme in illusionary thinking (Cook, 2015), little literature exists regarding the possible link between delusions and religious or non-religious upbringings. Studies show that between multiple episodes of psychosis and the natural progression of disease, there is a notable decline in treatment response (Berk et al., 2010). This study utilized a Delphi research design to examine expert consensus on the relationship between childhood religiosity and the development of delusional thinking. A panel of experts in the field of psychiatry participated in multiple rounds of surveys to identify possible factors connecting early religious experiences to later psychotic symptoms. Results revealed that childhood religiosity likely functions as both a protective and risk factor for psychotic thinking. Religion speaks to the very core of an individual's values and identity (Pargament & Lomax, 2013). Therefore, consideration of the ways in which religious encounters shape personal perceptions could serve as the basis for a more holistic and meaningful approach to psychiatric care.

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