Consultation-Liaison Case Conference: Assessing Psychosis in Context of Religious Beliefs.
Justin Hoffman, Mary Lynn Dell, Godfrey D Pearlson, Benjamin Anderson
Journal of the Academy of Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry March 1, 2025 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaclp.2025.02.005 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Case study Case report Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 1 |
| Population | A 75-year-old female with acute mental status change and a history of episodes involving religious beliefs |
| Keywords | Humans Delusions Religion and psychology Psychotic disorders Aged Referral and consultation Female Hallucinations Psychosis |
| Key findings | The authors present a 75-year-old woman with acute unresponsiveness and collapse in the context of longstanding episodes involving beliefs about demonic possession and hearing the voices of God and the Devil. They argue that diagnosing and managing psychiatric illness with religious themes is challenging, citing limitations of current diagnostic tools, the nature of religious delusions, and the need for engagement strategies when symptoms overlap with religious experiences. |
Abstract
We present the case of a 75-year-old female presenting with an acute mental status change during which she abruptly became nonresponsive and collapsed to the floor. History revealed years of similar episodes in the context of religious beliefs regarding demonic possession and hearing the voices of God and the Devil. Top experts in the field provide perspective and guidance for diagnosing and managing psychiatric illness involving religious themes based on their experience and a review of available literature. Key teaching points include the challenges and limitations of current diagnostic tools, the nature of religious delusions, and engagement strategies for clinicians when dealing with patients exhibiting symptoms overlapping with religious experiences.