Maria Beatriz Couto
Andreia Salgado Gonçalves
Francesco Monteleone
Maria Eduarda Machado
Gerly Macedo Gonçalves
Sara Oliveira
Sónia Simões

Abstract:
Introduction and objectives: The relationship between religion and mental health has been increasingly studied, including in psycho-oncology. In fact, many cancer patients turn to religion to address the negative impact of this diagnosis. With this case report, we want to discuss the impact of religion on mental health and understand the doubts that religious beliefs can cause in the diagnosis.

Methods: A clinical interview and elaboration of the respective clinical case are carried out, with subsequent execution of a review of the bibliography.

Results: She is a 56-year-old patient with recurrent cervical cancer undergoing palliative chemotherapy. She was referred to the Psychiatry and Psychology Department because she presented depressive symptoms. The patient expressed religion as a protective factor, having restructured her daily routines, with increased faith, believing that Jesus could cure her, dedicating much of her time to prayer and consulting social network pages on Christianity. She was treated with an antidepressant, and a slight
mood elevation was observed.

Conclusions: In the present case, the way in which the patient started to live religion, occupying most of her time in it, leads to several questions. On the one hand, the protective role of religion in facilitating the adaptation to the diagnosis and the management of the underlying symptomatology and, on the other hand, the possible positive negation of the prognosis. Furthermore, the question arises whether delusional conviction may emerge from this religious belief. In fact, the connection between religious practices and mental health has been controversial, with positive and negative factors being pointed out regarding religion as a coping mechanism.

Keywords: Psycho-oncology; Religion; Mental health