Spirituality and mood pathology in severe skin conditions: a prospective observational study

Abstract

Although the association between spirituality and parameters of psychological health and disease has been investigated extensively, little evidence is available for its potential role in dermatology. In a single-centre observational prospective study, 149 outpatients (107 women) with systemic sclerosis (SSc; n = 44), lupus erythematosus (LE; n = 48), or early stage malignant melanoma (MM; n = 57) were investigated using the multidimensional inventory for religious/spiritual well-being together with the Brief Symptom Inventory for psychiatric symptoms (BSI-18). SSc patients reported the highest amount of Somatization in comparison with LE and MM patients (p < 0.05). Furthermore, in line with the previous research, spiritual dimensions, such as Hope for a better future (p < 0.01) or Hope for a better afterlife (p < 0.01), proved to be especially negatively predictive for the global amount of psychiatric symptom burden in these dermatological patient groups. Our findings suggest that greater attention should be given to spiritual issues, such as encouraging patients, imbuing them with optimism, and offering interventions that address spiritual well-being.

Religious/spiritual experiences, quality of life and satisfaction with life of hospitalized octogenarians

“…The assessed elderly in this research showed greater impairment in the physical domain of the WHOQOL-BREF (45.06 score) and in the facet autonomy of the WHOQOL-OLD (48.73 score). A similar result was found in the physical domain of the WHOQOL-BREF (mean = 55.50) of elderly people who underwent hemodialysis in dialysis units in the city of Ribeirão Preto, SP, but participants under hemodialysis had a better score in the autonomy facet (mean = 62.70) from WHOQOL-OLD, which can be the product of cultural and regional aspects (7) .…”

“…Spirituality can help preserve and improve the QoL of elderly people with physical, environmental, social and emotional challenges. Spiritual and religious beliefs can provide an understanding of suffering, enabling change and adaptation in the construction of a new meaning for the existence and strengthening of hope, to start again even in a situation of suffering that hospitalization often imposes on patients (7) .…”

“…The lower the score of participants, in this study, in the Daily Spiritual Experience Scale, which reflected greater spiritual experience, the higher the score in the social involvement domain of the Satisfaction With Life Scale. The spiritual dimension is related to finding meaning and answers to fundamental aspects of life through sacred and transcendent experiences, which are capable of providing health benefits, bringing greater SWL and social life and better QoL, as these individuals are more resilient to situations and personal problems (7) .…”

“…In recent years, interest in finding an association between religious and spiritual issues and a better QoL in people with physical and mental illnesses has increased and the possible expected salutogenic effect on the well-being of those living in this scenario (7) . Individuals with chronic or life-threatening illnesses often report unmet spiritual needs that, in most cases, are not addressed or recognized by health professionals.…”

Methods to improve quality of life, beyond medicines. Position statement of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology Task Force on Quality of Life and Patient Oriented Outcomes

“…Patients with various chronic diseases might benefit from a religious and spiritual dimension. In patients with systemic sclerosis (SS), lupus erythematosus (LE) and early stages of MM, evidence of spiritual well‐being could predict low psychiatric burden 98 . Using the Multidimensional Inventory for Religious/Spiritual Well‐Being (MI‐RSWB), Pilch et al showed a greater burden from the disease at the time of diagnosis for patients with LE, needing several years to accept the disease, 99 compared to patients with SS and MM.…”