FULLY BOOKED - Spirituality SIG | Possession states and psychiatry: the interface of faith and clinical decision making

Possession states and psychiatry: the interface of faith and clinical decision making

Psychiatrists are often consulted when a person complains of adverse experiences attributed to the activity of evil spirits, demons or djinn. Amongst these, experiences of possession states are a particular cause of concern and controversy. Different faith traditions offer different accounts of possession and its significance; and also, what might be done to help those affected. In this webinar, we will hear three short presentations by psychiatrists from different faith perspectives (Muslim, Hindu and Christian) about clinical and theological approaches to possession states.

The webinar aims to introduce people to ideas about possession as understood in three major faith traditions, and their clinical significance. Participants are encouraged to join the Q&A and discussion at the end.  

The speakers for the webinar are Dr Chetna Kang, Prof Chris Cook, and Dr Harun Butt. It will be chaired by Dr Gwen Adshead and Dr Jonathan Buckley. 

The titles of the speakers' talks are:

• Christopher Cook: Deliverance and mental health in the Church of England
• Harun Butt: What Psychiatrists treating Muslims should know about Jinn
• Chetna Kang: Is it me? - Vedic perspectives on mental health and the subtle body

Members of the Spirituality Special Interest Group are warmly invited to join our first online AGM, taking place online after the webinar: Friday 22 November, 12PM - 1PM.

Previously this has been at the International Congress but with the new culture of online meetings we are hoping that this will enable more people to attend.

I, Dr Lucy Grimwade, have taken over as chair of the SIG for the next four years. I am excited to share our vision with you at the AGM, alongside our executive committee. We have seven goals, and we will be seeking active support from yourselves to help us enact.

1. To reach all psychiatric trainees to give them an understanding of how spirituality and mental health can interact and how this can be assessed.
2. To extend an influence on College policy
3. To provide ongoing CPD to consultants in the area of spirituality and mental health. We will be having a face to face conference and an online webinar annually.
4. We are looking at how we can engage with yourselves more regularly between conferences.
5. We are all acutely aware of the emotional load that psychiatry puts on us and our teams.  Personal spirituality can build resilience and wellbeing. We are asking how the SIG can be supporting psychiatrists and teams in this area?
6. We want the SIG to be a space where psychiatrist can network with each other as well as with the MDT, research interests, faith groups, chaplaincy and interested parties.
7. To remain financially solvent and active. We are seeking new exec members from among yourselves to maintain a balance between different faiths, and to maintain enthusiasm and action!

Register your attendance here.

You do not need to book a ticket to the webinar in order to attend the AGM.

I look forward to meeting with many members of the SIG then.

Dr Lucy Grimwade, SPSIG Chair

Dr Gwen Adshead

Gwen Adshead is a forensic psychiatrist and psychotherapist. For the last 30 years she has worked as a therapist with violence perpetrators. She is trained as a group analyst, a mindfulness based cognitive therapist and in mentalisation based therapy. Gwen also has a long-standing interest in ethical and philosophical reasoning applied to mental health care.

Gwen is the author of many peer reviewed papers and book chapters and she has co-edited or co-authored several academic textbooks. Her first book for a general audience was written with her friend Eileen Horne. Titled ‘the Devil you know’, it is a description of the work of a forensic psychotherapist. She and Eileen are now working on a book about trauma.

Gwen is an Honorary Fellow of the Royal College of Psychiatrists and was awarded the Presidents Medal for her work in ethics in 2013.

Dr Chetna Kang

Chetna Kang is a Consultant Psychiatrist, Broadcaster and a Priestess in the Hindu tradition of Bhakti Yoga. She has been on the Executive Committee of the RCPsych’s Spirituality and Psychiatry SIG for 11 years. She is a General Adult and Liaison Psychiatrist based in London and specialises in integrative psychiatry. Recently published in BBC Radio 4's ‘Thought for the day’ book, she is well known for her spiritual commentary on mental health and current affairs: she presents Thought for the day on Radio 4’s 'Today' programme and features on World of Wisdom with BBC World Service.

Dr Harun Butt

Harun Butt is a Consultant Psychiatrist with the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Complex Needs Service and Buckinghamshire Primary Care Mental Health Hub, working primarily with individuals diagnosable with Personality Disorders. He has a strong interest in tackling healthcare inequality in minority ethnic and religious groups. He is involved in various mental health projects with local mosques.

Professor Christopher Cook

Christopher Cook is Emeritus Professor in the Institute for Medical Humanities at Durham University, and Honorary Chaplain for Tees, Esk & Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust. From 1997 to 2003 he was Professor of the Psychiatry of Alcohol Misuse at the University of Kent. He was ordained as an Anglican priest in 2001.

Chris was Director of the Centre for Spirituality, Theology and Health, at Durham University from 2012-2022. He is a past Chair of the Spirituality and Psychiatry Special Interest Group at the Royal College of Psychiatrists and was Co-Chair of the Section on Religion and Spirituality at the World Psychiatric Association from 2022-2023.

His book publications include: Hearing Voices, Demonic and Divine (2018), and (as lead editor) Spirituality and Psychiatry (2nd edition 2023). From 2021-2023 he was a member of the National Reference Group for Deliverance Ministry in the Church of England.

Dr Jonathan Buckley

Jonathan Buckley is a General Adult Community Mental Health Team consultant at Southern Health NHS Trust. He is the EDI representative, and provides education and conference support on SPSIG executive committee.