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The couch and the cloth: the need for linkage
D B Larson1, A A Hohmann, L G Kessler
1Division of Biometry and Applied Sciences, National Institute of Mental Health, Rockville, Maryland 20857.
Hospital & Community Psychiatry
|October 1, 1988
Summary
Seeking mental health services from both clergy and specialists is linked to higher rates of major affective and panic disorders. This highlights the need for better collaboration between religious leaders and mental health professionals.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Public Health
- Sociology of Religion
Background:
- Mental health service utilization is complex, involving various providers.
- Understanding the interplay between religious and professional mental healthcare is crucial for effective treatment.
- Previous research has not fully explored the comparative outcomes of seeking care from clergy versus mental health specialists.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare demographic characteristics and psychiatric symptomatology based on mental health service source.
- To investigate the association between seeking care from clergy, mental health specialists, or both, and specific mental health disorders.
- To identify the need for formal linkages between clergy and mental health professionals.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the Epidemiologic Catchment Area (ECA) study.
- Classified participants into four groups based on service source: clergy only, mental health specialists only, both, and neither.
- Compared demographic and psychiatric symptom data across these groups.
Main Results:
- Individuals utilizing both clergy and mental health specialists showed higher prevalence of major affective and panic disorders.
- Those seeking care from mental health specialists exclusively were more likely to have substance abuse disorders.
- Individuals seeking care from clergy only had similar rates of serious mental disorders as those seeing mental health specialists only.
Conclusions:
- Integrated care models involving both clergy and mental health professionals may be necessary for specific populations.
- Formal collaboration between clergy and mental health professionals is essential for comprehensive mental healthcare.
- Different service pathways are associated with distinct psychiatric profiles, indicating a need for tailored approaches.