Psychiatrists’ religious attitudes in relation to their clinical practice: a survey of 231 psychiatrists

A total of 231 psychiatrists working in several London teaching hospitals were surveyed about their private religious attitudes and how these affected their reported clinical practice. Although only 27% reported a religious affiliation and 23% a belief in God, 92% felt that psychiatrists should concern themselves with the religious concerns of their patients. Although the psychiatrists who were religious were more likely to make referrals to religious leaders or to disclose their own beliefs to patients, contrary to reports from the United States there was no evidence that psychiatrists' private religious beliefs had an important influence on their clinical practice.