Spirituality and mental health: what evidence shows?
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.25118/2763-9037.2012.v2.904Keywords:
religion, spirituality, psychiatryAbstract
Religiosity and spirituality (R/S) have become a topic of growing interest among clinicians and health researchers. However, due to lack of training on issues related to the relationship between R/S and health, much of the evidence available is still unknown by many health professionals and many have difficulties in dealing with R/S during clinical practice. This paper presents a brief and practical review of key concepts in R/S that are relevant to the clinician as well as the main evidence on the impact of R/S on mentalhealth. There is a broad, diverse and robust body of evidence indicating the relevance and impact of R/S on health. Studies show that R/S is an important element in the lives of most of the world population, especially among those facing struggles like illness. People with higher levels of R/S tend to have higher well-being and lower levels of depression, substance buse/dependence, and suicidal behaviors. Although requiring further study, R/S is an aspect in the lives of patients with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, with evidence suggesting a beneficial impact of R/S on the evolution of these mental disorders. Currently, the research trend is no longer to investigate whether there are relationships between R/S and health, but in identifying the mechanisms of this relationship and how to apply this knowledge in clinical practice.
Downloads
Metrics
References
• 1. Dalgalarrondo, P. Religião, psicopatologia e saúde mental. Porto Alegre: Artmed, 2008.
• 2. Moreira-Almeida, A. Espiritualidade e saúde: passado e futuro de uma relação controversa e desafiadora. Rev. psiquiatr. clín. 2007; 34 (supl.1):3-4. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/S0101-60832007000700001
• 3. Moreira-Almeida, A ; Pinsky I ; Zaleski MJB ; Laranjeira R .Envolvimento religioso e fatores sociodemográficos: resultados de um levantamento nacional no Brasil. Rev. psiquiatr. clín. 2010; 37:12-5. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/S0101-60832010000100003
• 4. Lucchetti G, Granero AL, Bassi RM, Latorraca R, Nacif SAP. Espiritualidade na prática clínica: o que o clínico deve saber? Rev Bras Clin Med 2010; 8(2):154-8.
• 5. Lucchetti G, Lucchetti AL, Espinha DC, Oliveira LR, Leite JR, Koenig HG. Spirituality and health in the curricula of medical schools in Brazil. BMC Med Educ. 2012; 12 (1):7-8. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/1472-6920-12-78
• 6. Committee on religion and psychiatry – American Psychiatric Association. Guidelines regarding possible conflict between psychiatrists’ religious commitments and psychiatric practice. Am J Psychiatry.1990; 147: 542. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1176/ajp.147.4.542
• 7. Lukoff D, Lu F, Turner R. Toward a more culturally sensitive DSM-IV. Psychoreligious and psychospiritual problems. J Nerv Ment Dis.1992; 180 (11): 673-82. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1097/00005053-199211000-00001
• 8. Curlin FA, Odell SV, Lawrence RE, Chin MH, Lantos JD, Meador KG, et al. The relationship between psychiatry and religion among U.S. physicians. Am J Psychiatry. 2007; 164 (12):1825-31. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.2007.06122088
• 9. Worthington EL, Hook JN, Davis DE, McDaniel MA. Religion and spirituality. In: Norcross JC (Org). Psychotherapy relationships that work. 2a. ed. New York: Oxford University Press; 2011:402-19. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199737208.003.0020
• 10. Moreira-Almeida A, Neto FL, Koenig HG. Religiousness and mental health. Rev Bras Psiquiatr. 2006; 28 (3):242-50. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/S1516-44462006005000006
• 11. Allport GW, Ross JM. Personal religious orientation and prejudice. J Pers Soc Psycol. 1967; 5 (4):432-43. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.5.4.432
• 12. Numbes RL. Mitos e verdades em ciência e religião: uma perspectiva histórica. Rev. psiquiatr. clín. 2009; 36 (6):246-51. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/S0101-60832009000600006
• 13. Numbers RL. Galileo goes to jail and other myths about science and religion. Cambridge: Harvard Uni-versity Press, 2009. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4159/9780674054394
• 14. Harrison, P. (Org). Compêndio Cambridge de ciência e religião. São Paulo: Ed. Idéias e Letras (no prelo).
• 15. Schumann C, Stroppa A, Moreira-Almeida A. The contribution of faith-based health organisations to public health. International Psychiatry 2011; 8(3):62-3. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1192/S1749367600002587
• 16. Koenig HG, King DE, Carson VB. Handbook of religion and health. 2a. ed. New York: Oxford University Press, 2012.
• 17. Koenig HG, McCullough M, Larson DB. Handbook of religion and health: A century of research reviewed. New York: Oxford University Press, 2001. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195118667.001.0001
• 18. Guimaraes HP, Avezum A. O impacto da espiritualidade na saúde física. Rev. psiquiatr. clín. 2007; 34 (supl.1), 88-94. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/S0101-60832007000700012
• 19. Lucchetti G, Lucchetti ALG, Koenig HG. Impact of spirituality/religiosity on mortality: Comparison with other health interventions. Explore 2011; 7:234-8. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.explore.2011.04.005
• 20. George LK, Ellison CG, Larson DB. Explaining the relationships between religious involvement and health. Psychological Inquiry 2002; 13:190-200. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1207/S15327965PLI1303_04
• 21. Nagib MGS. Associação entre religiosidade e uso de álcool na população brasileira [dissertação de mestrado]. Juiz de Fora (MG): Pós-graduação em Saúde, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora; 2009. Disponível em http://www.hoje.org.br/bves
• 22. Dalgalarrondo P, Soldera MA, Correa Filho HR, Silva CA. Religion and drug use by adolescents. Rev. Bras. Psiquiatr. 2004; 26 (2):82-90. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/S1516-44462004000200004
• 23. Kasen S, Wickramaratne P, Gameroff MJ, Weissman MM.Religiosity and resilience in persons at high risk for major depression. Psychological Medicine. 2012; 42:509-19. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0033291711001516
• 24. Miller L, Wickramaratne P, Gameroff MJ, Sage M, Tenke CE, Weissman MM. Religiosity and major depression in adults at high risk: a ten-year prospective study. Am J Psychiatry. 2012; 169 (1):89-94. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.2011.10121823
• 25. Stroppa A, Moreira-Almeida A. Religiosidade e espiritualidade no transtorno bipolar do humor. Rev. psiquiatr. clín. 2009; 36 (5):190-6. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/S0101-60832009000500003
• 26. Stroppa ALPC. Religiosidade e espiritualidade no transtorno bipolar do humor [dissertação de mestradoJuiz de Fora] (MG): Pós-graduação em Saúde, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora; 2011. Disponível em http://www.hoje.org.br/bves
• 27. Koenig, Harold G.. Religião, espiritualidade e transtornos psicóticos. Rev. psiquiatr. clín.2007; 34 (supl.1):95-104. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/S0101-60832007000700013
• 28. Moreira-Almeida A, Cardeña E. Diagnóstico diferencial entre experiências espirituais e psicóticas não patológicas e transtornos mentais: uma contribuição de estudos latino-americanos para o CID-11. Rev. Bras. Psiquiatr. 2011; 33 (supl.1):21-8. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/S1516-44462011000500004
• 29. Mohr S, Perroud N, Gillieron C, Brandt PY, Rieben I, Borras L, Huguelet P. Spirituality and religiousness as predictive factors of outcome in schizophrenia and schizo-affective disorders. Psychiatry Res. 2011; 186 (2-3):177-82. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2010.08.012
• 30. Moreira de Almeida A. Religião e comportamento suicida. In: Meleiro AMAS, Teng CT, Wang YP (Eds). Suicídio: Estudos Fundamentais. São Paulo: Segmento Farma – 2004. Disponível em http://www.hoje.org.br/bves
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Conference Proceedings Volume
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2012 Alexander Moreira Almeida, André Lúcio Pinto Coelho Stroppa
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
Debates em Psiquiatria allows the author (s) to keep their copyrights unrestricted. Allows the author (s) to retain their publication rights without restriction. Authors should ensure that the article is an original work without fabrication, fraud or plagiarism; does not infringe any copyright or right of ownership of any third party. Authors should also ensure that each one complies with the authorship requirements as recommended by the ICMJE and understand that if the article or part of it is flawed or fraudulent, each author shares responsibility.
Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0) - Debates em Psiquiatria is governed by the licencse CC-By-NC
You are free to:
- Share — copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format
- Adapt — remix, transform, and build upon the material
The licensor cannot revoke these freedoms as long as you follow the license terms. Under the following terms:
- Attribution — You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use.
- NonCommercial — You may not use the material for commercial purposes.
No additional restrictions — You may not apply legal terms or technological measures that legally restrict others from doing anything the license permits.