Influence of religious affiliation on psychodiagnosis.

Abstract

To determine whether clinicians' diagnoses of patients are biased by their religion, by the religion of the patient, or by the interaction of religions, psychologists licensed in Utah were invited by questionnaire to participate in a clinical analogue experiment. Their religion (Latter-Day Saints [LDS] vs. Other) was obtained from a questionnaire, the purpose of which was not specified. Respondents received four fictitious case reports, which were varied on religion (LDS vs. Other), to diagnose according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Usable data were obtained from 60 psychologists, who assigned a wide variety of diagnoses. Diagnoses of all four cases were combined and grouped into seven categories. Chi-square and Fisher tests revealed that psychologists' use of diagnoses in these categories was not significantly influenced by the religion of the clinician or patient or by interactions between the two. The conclusion that psychologists in Utah are not biased by their religions, their patients' religions, or the relationship between the two when integrating case data to assign formal diagnoses is discussed in relation to previous research. This article is based on the flrst author's master's thesis, entitled "Influence of Clinicians' and Clients'

Understanding the values of religious clients: A model and its application to counseling.

“…For instance, nonreligious therapists have been found to distinguish accurately among psychotic experience, fabricated religious experience, and veridical religious experience (Margolis & Elifson, 1979, 1983. Religious and nonreligious therapists have also been found to make similar diagnoses of religious and nonreligious clients (Lewis & Lewis, 1985;Wadsworth & Checketts, 1980). Religious and nonreligious therapists have also been found to distinguish equally well between responsible and pathological use of religion (Worthington & Scott, 1983).…”

The effect of patient and clinician ideology on clinical judgment: A study of ideological countertransference.

“…A study of graduate student assessments of psychiatric pathology in patients whose attitudes differed from those of the students found bias (Fequay et al, 1978). The only study examining whether an interactive religious bias exists found none present (Wadsworth & Checketts, 1980).…”

Religious Counseling: A Review of Published Empirical Research

“…Three studies have focused on the diagnosis of religious clients. Wadsworth and Checketts (1980) had 60 psychologists, either Mormon or of another religion, respond to four written, fictitious case reports of clients who were described as being of either Mormon or of another religion. The psychologists who were Mormon did not differ in their diagnoses from psychologists of another (or no) religion.…”