Assessing Preferences for Addressing Religion and Spirituality in a Recovery Program for Adults with Serious Mental Illness

Abstract

Abstract Religion and Spirituality (R/S) are recognized components of recovery-oriented mental health services, but a clinically focused R/S needs assessment tool for Veterans with Serious Mental Illness (SMI) has not been developed. A questionnaire including 39 items was developed by experienced chaplains and mental health clinicians and administered to 110 participants in a recovery-oriented VA program. Altogether 40 (37%) said they would like R/S issues to be a greater part of their treatment (i.e. very or extremely). A screening tool to identify Veterans for referral to R/S focused interventions was developed based on the selection of the five items most strongly loading on the strongest factor in a factor analysis. This R/S survey of SMI adults suggests that over one-third of participants in a recovery-oriented program would like more R/S emphasis in their treatment. Factor analysis showed desire for uplifting religious/spiritual communityto be the predominant factor.