ERIC Number: ED276905
Record Type: RIE
Publication Date: 1986-Aug
Pages: 10
Abstractor: N/A
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Effects of Religiosity of Therapist and Patient on Clinical Judgment.
Hillowe, Bruce V.
Some theoreticians believe that diagnostic and prognostic impressions are based in part on clinicians' personal values. A study was conducted to assess whether clinical judgment is affected by patient religiosity, therapist religiosity, or an interaction between patient and therapist religiosity. Psychotherapists' (N=15) judgments concerning religious clients were investigated by comparing ratings of similar religious and nonreligious patient vignettes on the dimensions of appropriateness, selection, impairment, prognosis, diagnosis, required therapy sessions, and likelihood of continuation. Independent and interaction effects of therapists' own religiosity, as measured by scales of affiliation, belief, and nondoctrinal attitudes, were also examined. The results revealed that, regardless of their own religiosity, all therapists rated religious patients less favorably regarding diagnosis and required sessions. Regardless of the religiosity of the patient, therapists with strong religious beliefs assessed fewer therapy sessions. An interaction was found indicating that nondoctrinally religious therapists had more favorable prognoses for religious patients. (Author/NB)
Publication Type: Reports - Research; Speeches/Meeting Papers
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Note: Paper presented at the Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association (94th, Washington, DC, August 22-26, 1986).