We examined and compared the relationship between religiosity and symptom severity in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD; rated by the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale) and schizophrenia (Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale). Duke University Religion index, Santa Clara Strength of Religious Faith (SCSORF) questionnaire and Brief Religious Coping scale scores were similar between MDD (n=50) and schizophrenia (n=50) patients. In MDD patients, higher organized religious activity (ORA) (estimate=2.28, 95%CI 0.37, 4.19; P=0.020) and higher negative religious coping (estimate=0.43, 95%CI 0.03, 0.84; P=0.037) were independently associated with more severe symptoms. In schizophrenia patients, higher ORA was associated with lower negative symptoms (estimate=-1.99, 95%CI-3.94,-0.03; P=0.046). Higher SCSORF was associated with lower ORA in both patient subsets, and thus indirectly with milder symptoms in MDD patients and with more severe negative symptoms in schizophrenia patients. The relationship between religiosity and symptom severity apparently differs in patients with MDD and schizophrenia.

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