ABSTRACT
The tension between religion and psychiatry is longstanding, dating from the early twentieth century and perpetuated by the medicalisation of mental health. In the last three decades, psychiatrists have become more receptive to the potential role that religion can play in their patients’ recovery. First, the positive and negative aspects of religion and spirituality with regard to mental health will be summarised. Then the association between religion and spirituality and the mental health of five distinct groups of people will be reviewed. The five groups of people are: (1) refugees and asylum seekers living in transitional countries, (2) those with the substance use disorders, and Americans who are (3) older, (4), younger, or African American (5). These groups were chosen because of the strong research evaluating religion and spirituality.
