CULTURAL CONSIDERATIONS IN THE ASSESSMENT AND TREATMENT OF RELIGIOUS AND SPIRITUAL PROBLEMS

Although the religious and spiritual dimensions of life are among the most important cultural factors structuring human experience, behavior , and illness patterns, mainstream psychiatry has tended either to ign ore or pathologize he religious and spiritual issues that clients brin g into treatment. To redress this lack of sensitivity, the authors of this article propose a new diagnostic category to the DSM-IV Task Forc e entitled ''Religious or Spiritual Problem'' (V62.61). It is hoped th at the acceptance of this category will increase the accuracy of diagn ostic assessments, reduce iatrogenic harm from misdiagnosis, and incre ase mental health professionals' respect for individual beliefs and va lues.