Consultation-Liaison Case Conference: Assessing Psychosis in Context of Religious Beliefs

Abstract

We present the case of a 75-year-old female presenting with an acute mental status change during which she abruptly became nonresponsive and collapsed to the floor. History revealed years of similar episodes in the context of religious beliefs regarding demonic possession and hearing the voices of God and the Devil. Top experts in the field provide perspective and guidance for diagnosing and managing psychiatric illness involving religious themes based on their experience and a review of available literature. Key teaching points include the challenges and limitations of current diagnostic tools, the nature of religious delusions, and engagement strategies for clinicians when dealing with patients exhibiting symptoms overlapping with religious experiences.