The influence of religious activity on the severity of religious delusions
is unclear. This study examined whether Catholic and Protestant patients ex
perienced more religious delusions than non-religiously affiliated patients
. We also explored whether the severity of religious delusions, according t
o the Religious Delusions item on the Scale for the Assessment of Positive
Symptoms (SAPS), was associated with the amount of religious activity. The
Protestants experienced more religious delusions than Catholics and those w
ithout religious affiliation. Although when the groups were combined, patie
nts who were more religiously active experienced more severe religious delu
sions (n = 133), there was no difference in the severity of religious delus
ions across the non-religious, Catholic and Protestant groups. Religious af
filiation may influence the frequency of religious delusions, particularly
in Protestant individuals, but religious affiliation appears to be independ
ent of religious delusion severity. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.
All rights reserved.