J Korean Neuropsychiatr Assoc.  1998 Nov;37(6):1034-1043.

Religious Orientation and Persecutors in Delusions of Schizophrenic Patients

• Lee JS
• Kim KI
• Lee JI

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the characteristics of relationship between the frequency of various persecutors in schizophrenic delusion and religious orientation with other religious variables.
METHODS
The subjects were 105 schizophrenic patients. Diagnostic criteria used in this study was DSM-III-R. Religious orientation was assessed with the Intrinsic and Extrinsic Religious Orientation Scale. Demographic data, religious data, and contents of persecutory delusion were also analyzed.
RESULTS
1) The group obsessed with religious delusion regarded God, ghosts, and supernatural beings as persecutors. Predominantly, they used to have religious affiliation with protestantism before schizophrenic onset while being "intrinsic" in religious attitude. They also participated in religious activities more than 2 times every week. 2) The group who regarded religious leaders and shamans as persecutors predominantly had a religious affiliation after schizophrenic onset with "proreligious" and "intrinsic" religious attitude while some of them never participated in religious activity. 3) The group who regarded predominantly family and relatives as persecutors have a religious affiliation with buddhism and others(shamanism and etc) after schizophrenic onset with "extrinsic" religious attitude.
CONCLUSION
These results suggest that religious orientation and other religious factors seem to affect persecutory delusion formation in schizophrenic patients.

Keyword

Schizophrenia; Delusion; Persecutor; Religious orientation

MeSH Terms

Buddhism
Delusions*
Humans
Protestantism
Schizophrenia