P02-273 - Religion in Psychiatry? The Pilot Study in Freiburg, Germany: the Meaning of Religion / Spirituality in Psychiatry from Staff's Perspective

Abstract

Objectives

In the context of a growing body of international research though not in German-speaking countries, this study examines

1. 1) the extent of spirituality of staff in a psychiatric hospital,

2. 2) their relationship to staff's attitudes towards religion / spirituality (ReS) of patients

3. 3) and the integration of religious and spiritual contents to the patient's therapy.

Methods

An anonymous survey distributed to the staff in the department of psychiatry and psychotherapy of the Freiburg university hospital in 2009. Main predictor variable was the extent of spirituality using DRI. Main criterion variables were the relevance of ReS of patients and staff's attitudes towards ReS during their therapies using the questionnaire of Curlin et al.(2007).

Results

The response rate was 44.16% (n=197). The extent of spirituality of staff is 6.89 on a scale of 12.0. Although there is no significant relationship between the extent of spirituality and staff's attitudes towards ReS as well as their integration of religious and spiritual contents to therapies, staff regard the influence of ReS generally positive to patients. 95.4% endorse ReS as coping strategy. However staff do not integrate religious and spiritual practices in their therapies. The most frequent reasons are insufficient time/occasion, insufficient knowledge and concern about offending patients.

Conclusions

Religious and spiritual contents have not been integrated yet in psychiatric therapy methods, although they are regarded as important for patients. Further studies and discussion about religious and spiritual matters are essential for their integration into psychiatric therapies to overcome these problems for patients and staff.