Conceptualization of mental illness among Korean-American clergymen and implications for mental health service delivery.

This study examines the relationship between conceptualization of mental illness and referral intent among 50 Korean-American clergymen. Subjects are presented vignettes depicting depression, psychotic symptoms with religious delusions, and psychotic symptoms with persecutory delusions. The vignettes are followed by questions assessing problem conceptualization, cause attribution, and referral intent of mental health treatment. Respondents with a psychological conceptualization are significantly more willing to make a referral than are those who hold a religious conceptualization. Implications for effective utilization of the clergy as a mental health resource are discussed.