Psychiatrists’ attitudes to professional boundaries concerning spirituality and religion: mixed-methods study
Aims and method Calls for the integration of spirituality into psychiatric practice have raised concerns about boundary violations. We sought to develop a method to capture psychiatrists’ attitudes to professional boundaries and spirituality, explore consensus and understand what factors are conside...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Cambridge University Press
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| Series: | BJPsych Bulletin |
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| Online Access: | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2056469423000669/type/journal_article |
| _version_ | 1797742033313464320 |
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| author | Rob Poole Christopher C. H. Cook Robert Song Catherine A. Robinson |
| author_facet | Rob Poole Christopher C. H. Cook Robert Song Catherine A. Robinson |
| author_sort | Rob Poole |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Aims and method
Calls for the integration of spirituality into psychiatric practice have raised concerns about boundary violations. We sought to develop a method to capture psychiatrists’ attitudes to professional boundaries and spirituality, explore consensus and understand what factors are considered. Case vignettes were developed, tested and refined. Three vignettes were presented to 80 mental health professionals (53% said they were psychiatrists; 39% did not identify their professional status). Participants recorded their reactions to the vignettes. Four researchers categorised these as identifying boundary violations or not and analysed the factors considered.
Results
In 90% of cases, at least three of the four researchers agreed on classification (boundary violation; possible boundary violation; no boundary violation). Participants’ opinion about boundary violations was heterogeneous. There was consensus that psychiatrists should not proselytise in clinical settings. Reasoning emphasised pragmatic concerns. Few participants mentioned their religious beliefs. Equivocation was common.
Clinical implications
Mental health professionals seem unsure about professional boundaries concerning religion and spirituality in psychiatric practice.
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| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T14:35:12Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5617689c0b0a4169b15d073d9a4d73de |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2056-4694 2056-4708 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T14:35:12Z |
| publisher | Cambridge University Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BJPsych Bulletin |
| spelling | doaj.art-5617689c0b0a4169b15d073d9a4d73de2023-08-17T09:05:19ZengCambridge University PressBJPsych Bulletin2056-46942056-47081510.1192/bjb.2023.66Psychiatrists’ attitudes to professional boundaries concerning spirituality and religion: mixed-methods studyRob Poole0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7914-3981Christopher C. H. Cook1https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7700-7639Robert Song2Catherine A. Robinson3Bangor University, Bangor, UKDurham University, Durham, UKUniversity of Manchester, Manchester, UKUniversity of Manchester, Manchester, UKAims and method Calls for the integration of spirituality into psychiatric practice have raised concerns about boundary violations. We sought to develop a method to capture psychiatrists’ attitudes to professional boundaries and spirituality, explore consensus and understand what factors are considered. Case vignettes were developed, tested and refined. Three vignettes were presented to 80 mental health professionals (53% said they were psychiatrists; 39% did not identify their professional status). Participants recorded their reactions to the vignettes. Four researchers categorised these as identifying boundary violations or not and analysed the factors considered. Results In 90% of cases, at least three of the four researchers agreed on classification (boundary violation; possible boundary violation; no boundary violation). Participants’ opinion about boundary violations was heterogeneous. There was consensus that psychiatrists should not proselytise in clinical settings. Reasoning emphasised pragmatic concerns. Few participants mentioned their religious beliefs. Equivocation was common. Clinical implications Mental health professionals seem unsure about professional boundaries concerning religion and spirituality in psychiatric practice. https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2056469423000669/type/journal_articleQualitative researchethicsclinical governancetranscultural psychiatrypsychosocial interventions |
| spellingShingle | Rob Poole Christopher C. H. Cook Robert Song Catherine A. Robinson Psychiatrists’ attitudes to professional boundaries concerning spirituality and religion: mixed-methods study BJPsych Bulletin Qualitative research ethics clinical governance transcultural psychiatry psychosocial interventions |
| title | Psychiatrists’ attitudes to professional boundaries concerning spirituality and religion: mixed-methods study |
| title_full | Psychiatrists’ attitudes to professional boundaries concerning spirituality and religion: mixed-methods study |
| title_fullStr | Psychiatrists’ attitudes to professional boundaries concerning spirituality and religion: mixed-methods study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Psychiatrists’ attitudes to professional boundaries concerning spirituality and religion: mixed-methods study |
| title_short | Psychiatrists’ attitudes to professional boundaries concerning spirituality and religion: mixed-methods study |
| title_sort | psychiatrists attitudes to professional boundaries concerning spirituality and religion mixed methods study |
| topic | Qualitative research ethics clinical governance transcultural psychiatry psychosocial interventions |
| url | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2056469423000669/type/journal_article |
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