Author's reply

摘要

I am interested, although not surprised, to hear that Professor Poole thinks that my suggestion that a significant prospective study of religion and completed suicide1 might have implications for British clinical practice is 'profoundly misguided'. It is true that the study in question emanates from the USA, not the UK, but Poole concedes that a study undertaken here 'would be likely to yield similar findings'. Nor did I have space to expand in any detail upon exactly how the matters in question might be discussed with patients, but I did cite Koenig et al as urging caution with regard to any religious/spiritual interventions that might be contemplated. I am therefore surprised that Poole found necessary to emphasise the dangers of proselytism, as though I might have been opening the door to this, especially given that he notes that I wrote the College Position Statement that clearly states 'Psychiatrists should not use their professional position for proselytising or undermining faith'.