Spiritually significant hallucinations: a patient-centred approach to tackle epistemic injustice

Cullinan, Rachel J.; Woods, Angela; Barber, Joanna M.P.; Cook, Christopher C.H.

Abstract

This article uses three fictitious case vignettes to raise questions and educate on how clinicians can appropriately approach patients experiencing spiritually significant hallucinations. Religious hallucinations are common but are not pathognomonic of mental illness. They are often intimate experiences for the patient that raise complex questions about psychopathology for clinicians. When assessing a patient with religious hallucinations it is important that clinicians hold at the centre that person's personal experience and create a safe space in which they are listened to and epistemic injustices are avoided. Involvement of chaplaincy services is important not just to support the patient but also to ensure that as clinicians we seek support in understanding the religious nature of these experiences.

Citation

Cullinan, R. J., Woods, A., Barber, J. M., & Cook, C. C. (2023). Spiritually significant hallucinations: a patient-centred approach to tackle epistemic injustice. BJPsych Bulletin, https://doi.org/10.1192/bjb.2023.17

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: May 14, 2023
• Online Publication Date: Apr 12, 2023
• Publication Date: 2023
• Deposit Date: Apr 19, 2023
• Publicly Available Date: May 13, 2024
• Journal: BJPsych Bulletin
• Print ISSN: 2056-4694
• Electronic ISSN: 2056-4708
• Publisher: Royal College of Psychiatrists
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1192/bjb.2023.17
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1176818