Selected symptoms of mental disorders during confession and supportive reaction of the confessor

Abstract

The purpose of the article is to show and synthetically describe the most common symptoms that may indicate the presence of a mental disorder, chich can be observed by the confessor during the confession. Subsequently, the texts hows the supportive attitude of the confessor, who can activate the penitent to work on himself not only in the spiritual development, but also mental health. The data on the description of attitude indicators deviating from the accepted standards of mental health were subjected to functional analysis and classified in the context of the most common mental disorders. In the process of synthesis, a set of rules for the confessor’s conduct in the case of finding penitent’s symptoms of a disorder. Observation of the above-mentioned symptoms is possible during the sacrament of penance and reconciliation, although it does not constitute a professional diagnosis of mental health. Inappropriate approach may be conducive to the activation of actions for the discussed type of health by the penitent, by the infl uence of the confessor’s recommendations.