Religiosity and Engagement in Early Intervention Programme for First‐Episode Psychosis
Alona Schneidman, David Roe, Yaara Zisman‐Ilani, Carmit‐Noa ShpigelmanABSTRACT
Background
While religious beliefs are known to affect help‐seeking pathways, little is known about how they shape engagement in first‐episode psychosis (FEP) care. The purpose of the present study is to explore how religious belief, religious identity and cultural norms shape engagement with FEP care.
Methods
Semi‐structured interviews were conducted with 23 NAVIGATE participants in Israel. The sample comprised 11 Ultra‐Orthodox (UO) and 12 non‐observant (Non‐Obs) Jewish FEP participants. Thematic analysis was used to identify themes related to religious factors in FEP care engagement and the therapeutic alliance.
Results
Two main themes emerged. The first focused on how faith contributed to participation in NAVIGATE by framing FEP care as God's will and viewing therapy as a spiritual experience. The second focused on trust issues, emphasising autonomy and collaborative decision‐making. Across both themes, the therapeutic relationship emerged as a critical independent source of NAVIGATE engagement.
Conclusions
Findings indicate that religiosity shapes day‐to‐day engagement throughout FEP care, extending beyond initial help‐seeking. Implications are discussed with a focus on dialogue, psychoeducation and communication and on combining religious responsiveness with a strong therapeutic alliance.