Title: Spiritual Conflict and Mood Disorders: A Case Report of Conversion-Related Depression
Pandit S.S., Kafle K., Raut K.
Background:
Religious and spiritual frameworks greatly influence individual identity, moral values, and coping mechanisms. Although they often act as protective factors against psychological distress, they can also become sources of inner conflict when someone faces spiritual struggles, especially during or after a religious conversion or denial of conversion. Such conflicts may increase vulnerability to mental health issues, particularly mood disorders like depression. Nonetheless, depression related to conversion is an under-recognized phenomenon in both clinical practice and research, especially within South Asian cultural contexts.
Objective:
To present a rare case of conversion-related depression, highlighting the complex interplay between religious transformation and affective symptomatology.
Case Description:
A 28-year-old married female with no prior psychiatric history presented to psychiatric outpatient services with pervasive sadness, social withdrawal, feelings of worthlessness, insomnia, decreased appetite, and passive suicidal ideation over the past 3 months. These symptoms followed her denial of conversion to a different religion. This led to familial rejection, social isolation, and an internal struggle with guilt, cultural identity, and perceived betrayal of familial values. The patient met the criteria for Major Depressive Disorder (ICD-11: 6A70).
Intervention and Outcomes:
Treatment combined pharmacotherapy (Escitalopram) with supportive psychotherapy. Over 12 weeks, the patient demonstrated marked improvement in mood and functionality, with resolution of guilt-related ruminations.
Conclusion:
This case underscores the importance of recognizing spiritual conflict as a contributory factor in mood disorders.
Keywords:
Spiritual conflict, mood disorders, depression, religious conversion, cultural identity, case report
shukra sagar pandit
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