Psycho-Babble Faith Thread 1046971

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Spirituality - good medicine?

Posted by SLS on July 10, 2013, at 23:35:22

Interesting little study.


- Scott

----------------------------------------------------

A test of faith in God and treatment: the relationship of belief in God to psychiatric treatment outcomes.

J Affect Disord.
2013 Apr 25;146(3):441-6

Rosmarin DH, Bigda-Peyton JS, Kertz SJ, Smith N, Rauch SL, Björgvinsson T.
Source

Department of Psychiatry, McLean Hospital/Harvard Medical School, 115 Mill Street, Belmont MA 02478, USA. drosmarin@mclean.harvard.edu

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Belief in God is very common and tied to mental health/illness in the general population, yet its relevance to psychiatric patients has not been adequately studied. We examined relationships between belief in God and treatment outcomes, and identified mediating mechanisms.

METHODS:

We conducted a prospective study with n=159 patients in a day-treatment program at an academic psychiatric hospital. Belief in God, treatment credibility/expectancy, emotion regulation and congregational support were assessed prior to treatment. Primary outcomes were treatment response as well as degree of reduction in depression over treatment. Secondary outcomes were improvements in psychological well-being and reduction in self-harm.

RESULTS:

Belief in God was significantly higher among treatment responders than non-responders F(1,114)=4.81, p<.05. Higher levels of belief were also associated with greater reductions in depression (r=.21, p<.05) and self-harm (r=.24, p<.01), and greater improvements in psychological well-being (r=.19, p<.05) over course of treatment. Belief remained correlated with changes in depression and self-harm after controlling for age and gender. Perceived treatment credibility/expectancy, but not emotional regulation or community support, mediated relationships between belief in God and reductions in depression. No variables mediated relationships to other outcomes. Religious affiliation was also associated with treatment credibility/expectancy but not treatment outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS:

Belief in God, but not religious affiliation, was associated with better treatment outcomes. With respect to depression, this relationship was mediated by belief in the credibility of treatment and expectations for treatment gains.

Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

PMID:
23051729
[PubMed - in process]

 

Re: Spirituality - good medicine? » SLS

Posted by Phillipa on July 11, 2013, at 9:46:15

In reply to Spirituality - good medicine?, posted by SLS on July 10, 2013, at 23:35:22

Scott hope it doesn't die here. Phillipa

 

Re: Spirituality - good medicine? » SLS

Posted by Dinah on July 11, 2013, at 21:34:12

In reply to Spirituality - good medicine?, posted by SLS on July 10, 2013, at 23:35:22

It doesn't surprise me. I can see how a negative spin might be placed on it, but...

I can't really explain what I'm thinking, and when I try it doesn't come out at all right.

Do you ever leave your house without a watch? I always feel so lost without a watch. I notice for myself, and with some of the people of faith that I know, that belief in God can be something like a watch. It somehow helps me place myself in the universe. It's orienting.

That could be a helpful conjunct to treatment, I'd think.

But then I also think that when I'm most depressed, it's harder for me to maintain spirituality. So in some ways, for me at least, therapy would need to help some first.

 

Re: Spirituality - good medicine? » SLS

Posted by Phillipa on July 12, 2013, at 10:23:06

In reply to Spirituality - good medicine?, posted by SLS on July 10, 2013, at 23:33:59

It sounds to me like it's believing in the power of the medication to work that leads to better outcomes. Not so much organized religion. Would hate to see this thread die on another board. Phillipa

 

Re: Spirituality - good medicine? » Phillipa

Posted by Dinah on July 12, 2013, at 15:59:04

In reply to Re: Spirituality - good medicine? » SLS, posted by Phillipa on July 12, 2013, at 10:23:06

Yes, that was my guess on what people would say.

As a person of faith, I can say that a belief in God does not directly correlate with a belief in medication or a belief in treatments. I love God, and believe in God, with all my heart. But I don't have similar faith in medications, doctors, or even direct interventions of the divine.

People of faith are not necessarily more persuadable than anyone else.

 

Re: Spirituality - good medicine?

Posted by SLS on July 12, 2013, at 16:14:42

In reply to Re: Spirituality - good medicine? » SLS, posted by Dinah on July 11, 2013, at 21:34:12

Yes! Yes! Yes!


- Scott

-------------------------------------------

> It doesn't surprise me. I can see how a negative spin might be placed on it, but...
>
> I can't really explain what I'm thinking, and when I try it doesn't come out at all right.
>
> Do you ever leave your house without a watch? I always feel so lost without a watch. I notice for myself, and with some of the people of faith that I know, that belief in God can be something like a watch. It somehow helps me place myself in the universe. It's orienting.
>
> That could be a helpful conjunct to treatment, I'd think.
>
> But then I also think that when I'm most depressed, it's harder for me to maintain spirituality. So in some ways, for me at least, therapy would need to help some first.

-------------------------------------------

 

Re: Spirituality - good medicine?

Posted by poser938 on July 12, 2013, at 21:00:55

In reply to Re: Spirituality - good medicine?, posted by SLS on July 12, 2013, at 16:14:42

i used to believe.
but now i dont have the capability of believing.
now my thoughts are that belief in God or Allah or whoever, helps in a way that a placebo does.

 

Re: Spirituality - good medicine? » poser938

Posted by SLS on July 13, 2013, at 7:02:55

In reply to Re: Spirituality - good medicine?, posted by poser938 on July 12, 2013, at 21:00:55

> i used to believe.
> but now i dont have the capability of believing.
> now my thoughts are that belief in God or Allah or whoever, helps in a way that a placebo does.

If I understand the study properly, a spiritual belief in God, but not necessarily having a religious affiliation, was associated with better treatment outcomes. Importantly, belief in either God or having a religious affiliation both resulted in a perception of greater credibility and positive expectations of treatment. Therefore, the perception of credibility and a expectations of treatment is not sufficient to increase treatment outcomes. This would argue against a placebo effect as being the mediator of improved treatment response among those who had a spiritual belief in God.

* The study did not qualify the name or characteristics of God.


- Scott

 

Re: Spirituality - good medicine?

Posted by Dinah on July 15, 2013, at 11:24:10

In reply to Re: Spirituality - good medicine?, posted by SLS on July 12, 2013, at 16:14:42

> Yes! Yes! Yes!
>
>
> - Scott
>
> -------------------------------------------
>
> > It doesn't surprise me. I can see how a negative spin might be placed on it, but...
> >
> > I can't really explain what I'm thinking, and when I try it doesn't come out at all right.
> >
> > Do you ever leave your house without a watch? I always feel so lost without a watch. I notice for myself, and with some of the people of faith that I know, that belief in God can be something like a watch. It somehow helps me place myself in the universe. It's orienting.
> >
> > That could be a helpful conjunct to treatment, I'd think.
> >
> > But then I also think that when I'm most depressed, it's harder for me to maintain spirituality. So in some ways, for me at least, therapy would need to help some first.
>
> -------------------------------------------
>
>

Hmmm.... It looks like they are discovering that the state of meditation affects the orientation/association area of the brain.

I don't know whether that would affect my own experience of finding belief in God rather orienting. I'm not at all good at meditation, and don't think I've ever had an experience of joining with the divine or being at one with the universe. I'm pretty sure I wouldn't want to.
Unless it's like being on the top of a mountain and realizing how very small I am, and how very large God is. I love that feeling. Although that seems rather the opposite of what I understand meditation to be.

I'm not particularly bothered by brain studies that involve belief in the divine. I've never understood why science and faith need to be in opposition. But then I've also always had a liking and respect for Thomas, and never understood why "Doubting Thomas" was supposed to be an insult. And I have no Charismatic leanings at all, being far more a Rationalist.


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