This is a fascinating article suggesting that rigid adherence to psychiatric paradigms can harm patients, using case studies to illustrate the need for greater humility, flexibility, and openness in psychiatric practice.
Interestingly, one of the case studies involves a person who solely relies on psychoanalysis and apparently gets better only when they explore more medical-based treatments. So, it's not the usual 'antipsychiatry' tract, as we might find on some websites. Instead, the article calls for balance, expertise, and sensitivity to individual needs.
I don't see any specific reference for or against the impact of religion or spirituality, but the article is a good starting point.
From my experience, religion can be a great help, as long as some fanatical believers don't use it to hide away from pressing psychological concerns. As one Catholic priest once suggested in the RCIA, some churchgoers are "insane" and use religion to not deal with their problems.
That, of course, is a value judgment one makes on the basis of their own experience, biases and limitations. But I think some zealots might overidentify with a religious identity at the cost of true healing and psycho-spiritual development.
What do you think?
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