The DSM-III and pastoral practice

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Theology
• Pastoral Care

Background:

• Theological and psychiatric fields often operate independently.
• A shared understanding of personhood is lacking between these disciplines.
• Effective mental healthcare requires interdisciplinary collaboration.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish a conceptual framework linking psychiatry and pastoral practice.
• To explore the concept of personhood from both theological and psychiatric viewpoints.
• To foster cooperative efforts in mental health support.

Main Methods:

• Comparative analysis of theological doctrines on personhood.
• Examination of psychiatric definitions of personhood, specifically referencing the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 3rd Edition.
• Conceptual synthesis to identify common ground and compatibility.

Main Results:

• Theological and psychiatric views on personhood are fundamentally holistic.
• Both perspectives present compatible models of personhood.
• A shared understanding of personhood can serve as a foundation for collaboration.

Conclusions:

• A conceptual bridge between psychiatry and pastoral care is feasible.
• The shared understanding of holistic personhood facilitates interdisciplinary cooperation.
• This integration can enhance the effectiveness of mental health services.