Mental illness and religious change.

Publisher: British Psychological Society Country of Publication: England NLM ID: 0370640 Publication Model: Print Cited Medium: Print ISSN: 0007-1129 (Print) Linking ISSN: 00071129 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Br J Med Psychol Subsets: MEDLINE

Publication: Letchworth Eng : British Psychological Society
Original Publication: London [etc.]

Judaism* ; Referral and Consultation* ; Religion and Psychology*; Mental Disorders/*psychology; Adaptation, Psychological ; Adult ; Community Mental Health Centers ; Female ; Humans ; Israel ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Social Conformity

Over the last 20 years there has been a revival of interest in orthodox Judaism in Israel. In an area of Jerusalem with a large concentration of academies of study for 'baalei teshuva' (those who have undergone change to orthodox Judaism), it was noted that 12.6 per cent of referrals to the community mental health centre were newly religious. These referrals tended to have schizophrenia or severe personality disorders and were less likely than other referrals to have anxiety, depressive or adjustment disorders. Most of the newly religious referrals had psychiatric problems prior to becoming religious. Subsequent to religious change, many married and started a family before their psychiatric referral. The link between religious change and mental illness is explored.

Date Created: 19900301 Date Completed: 19900606 Latest Revision: 20190912

20231215

10.1111/j.2044-8341.1990.tb02854.x

2331450