The Role of Religion and Spirituality in Olav’s Treatment and Recovery: Commentary on an Exemplary Case Report

The Case of Olav (Stalsett, Engedal, & Austad, 2010) offers in-depth insight from a spiritually and existentially informed psychodynamic perspective of how religious and spiritual issues may be intertwined with psychopathology. This case report also shows how psychological and spiritual interventions can be used in an integrative manner to help patients with severe long-term psychopathology. Ultimately the case provides convincing quantitative and qualitative evidence that an in-depth working through of Olav’s pathological inner representations of self and God were instrumental in his psycho-spiritual healing and recovery.