Favazza A R
Am J Psychiatry. 1982 Jun;139(6):728-35. doi: 10.1176/ajp.139.6.728.
Healing of mental illness through religious practices was a key element of early Christianity. In the early twentieth century such healing was associated with blue-collar and rural Fundamentalists, but religious healing practices have gained widespread acceptance by many middle-class, conservative Christian groups. "Evil demons" are now equated with envy, pride, avarice, hatred, and obsessions with alcohol and gambling. Many psychotherapeutic techniques of modern Christian healers appear to be rediscoveries of psychoanalytic insights expressed in religious metaphors. Most responsible healers encourage clients to seek medical and psychiatric help, especially for serious mental disorders. Psychiatrists need not share patients' religious beliefs, but for treatment to be effective these beliefs must be understood and respected.
通过宗教修行治愈精神疾病是早期基督教的一个关键要素。在二十世纪初，这种治愈与蓝领和乡村原教旨主义者相关联，但宗教治愈做法已被许多中产阶级保守基督教团体广泛接受。如今，“恶魔”被等同于嫉妒、骄傲、贪婪、仇恨以及对酒精和赌博的痴迷。现代基督教治疗师的许多心理治疗技巧似乎是对用宗教隐喻表达的精神分析见解的重新发现。大多数尽责的治疗师鼓励来访者寻求医疗和精神科帮助，尤其是针对严重精神障碍。精神科医生不必认同患者的宗教信仰，但为使治疗有效，必须理解并尊重这些信仰。
