Description 

There is a well-known phenomenon in mental health care called the ""religiosity” gap. This refers to the difference between the religious or spiritual beliefs of mental health care consumers and those of mental health care professionals. Consumers are more likely to be religious, according to repeated research. Viewing this explanation as a purely factual, sociodemographic difference is too simplistic; there is much more to it. One might say that this gap manifests itself at different levels of clinical practice and in different ways. I distinguish four perspectives or levels of analysis: the everyday level, the clinical context, the scientific context, and the philosophical context. And well-known, if not infamous, manifestations of the gap are reductionism and scientism. The layering of the religiosity gap, which I have in mind, is evidenced by the following. When this phenomenon was put on the agenda, the suspicion also arose that this was at the expense of the role that religion and spirituality could play, positively or negatively, in the diagnostic and therapeutic process. This refers to the gap between the consumer's daily experience and its articulation (first level) and the professional's clinical reasoning based on his or her knowledge (second level). We are talking about the 1980s and 1990s. Two things were set in motion then. On the one hand, there were strong calls for an adjustment in the DSM system; that adjustment came. And a tremendous stream of empirical research got under way, which made it clear that there was sufficient evidence to assume a positive relationship (correlation) between religion/spirituality and mental health. That did not close the religiosity gap. The socio-demographic difference is no less so. And the bumps in clinical practice have not diminished. This is a striking fact when one realizes that two major pillars of psychiatry namely the views of a professional association such as the APA as reflected in the DSM tradition, and scientific research would lead one to expect otherwise. Now it seems that the consumer is overtaking the professional left and right, at least in the Netherlands that seems to be the case. The vast majority of mental health care consumers and their relatives consider attention to meaning of life in treatment to be important for their recovery. It can only mean that the professional should ask himself or herself how the professional as a person relates to the professional role (level 4) and what role his or her own worldview plays in it. These theoretical considerations should not obscure the fact that the well-being of consumers and their loved ones is paramount. By exploring the field of religion, spirituality, meaning of life and mental health in all its facets, we try to make connections despite the gaps, in the expectation that reframing of the consumer's life narrative distorted by psychological problems will come as a valued outcome.

Format 

Recorded webinar.

This content was recorded during the APA 2024 Annual Meeting.

Learning Objectives 

1. Critically evaluate and analyze empirical research on religion and spirituality.
2. Distinguish levels of analysis in clinical cases.
3. Contrast science and scientism, reductionism and holism.
4. Conduct a clinical interview addressing religious/spiritual/meaning of life topics.
5. Recognize religious/spiritual or meaning of life needs and struggles.

Target Audience 

Residents/Fellows, Psychiatrists, Psychologists

Estimate Time to Complete 

Estimated Duration: 1.5 hours
Program Start Date: May 17, 2025
Program End Date: May 17, 2028

How to Earn Credit 

Participants who wish to earn AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ may do so after completing all sections of the course including the evaluation. After evaluating the program, course participants will be provided with an opportunity to claim hours of participation and print an official CME certificate (physicians) or certificate of participation (non-physicians) showing the completion date and hours earned. 

Continuing Education Credit  

In support of improving patient care, the American Psychiatric Association is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team. 

The APA designates this live activity for a maximum of 1.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. 

Faculty and Planner Disclosures 

The American Psychiatric Association adheres to the ACCME’s Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Medical Education. Any individuals in a position to control the content of a CME activity — including faculty, planners, reviewers or others — are required to disclose all relevant financial relationships with ineligible entities (commercial interests). All relevant conflicts of interest have been mitigated prior to the commencement of the activity. 

Instructors 

• Peter Verhagen, MD, PhD. Reports financial relationships with XXXXX.

Planners  

• Vishal Madaan, MD, Chief of Education and Deputy Medical Director at the American Psychiatric Association.

Accessibility for Participants with Disabilities 

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Technical Requirements 

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• Internet Explorer 11+ 

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Optimal System Configuration: 

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Minimum Requirements: 

• Windows PC: Windows 8.1 or higher; 1 GB (for 32-bit)/2 GB (for 64-bit) or higher RAM; Microsoft DirectX 9 graphics device with WDDM driver; audio playback with speakers for programs with video content 
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