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Published in: Journal of Religion and Health 5/2015

01-10-2015 | Original Paper

Religious Delusions in a Xhosa Schizophrenia Population

Authors: Alida Connell, Liezl Koen, Dana Niehaus, Karen J. Cloete, Esme Jordaan, Ulla Botha

Published in: Journal of Religion and Health | Issue 5/2015

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Abstract

Here, we assessed for the first time the frequency of religious delusions and the effect of treatment on religiosity and the phenomena of religious delusions in a Xhosa schizophrenia population. Religious delusions were present in 42 (70 %) participants, and treatment significantly reduced religiosity (p = 0.02) as well as mean scores for certain phenomena associated with the delusions including changes in both thinking (p = 0.0001) and behaviour (p = 0.0001), as well as affective response to the delusion (p = 0.0001) The high frequency of religious delusions may indicate a higher tolerance for religious delusions in this community. It is therefore important to educate spiritual leaders on mental illness.
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Metadata
Title
Religious Delusions in a Xhosa Schizophrenia Population
Authors
Alida Connell
Liezl Koen
Dana Niehaus
Karen J. Cloete
Esme Jordaan
Ulla Botha
Publication date
01-10-2015
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Journal of Religion and Health / Issue 5/2015
Print ISSN: 0022-4197
Electronic ISSN: 1573-6571
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-014-9860-0

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