Transpersonal Psychology Research Review: Psychospiritual Dimensions of Healing

Since the last Research Review (Lukoff, Turner & Lu, 1992), which focused on the psychoreligious dimensions of healing, there have been significant developments on several fronts. In the diagnostic nomenclature, the medical and psychiatric establishments, and the media, spirituality has been acknowledged as an important aspect of a person's well-being. Most encouraging for transpersonally-oriented clinicians is the acceptance by the American Psychiatric Association (APA) Task Force on DSM-IVofthe proposed new Z Code (formerly V Code) category entitled "Religious or Spiritual Problem" (Lukoff, Lu & Turner, 1992). Although revision of the definition and official acceptance by the APA Board of Trustees is still pending, it seems likely that, for the first time, this important diagnostic classification manual used in the United States, Canada, and abroad will acknowledge religious and spiritual problems that are not attributable to a mental disorder.