The Impact of Religious Faith and Practice on Patients Suffering from a Major Affective Disorder: A Cost Analysis

Berg, Gary; Fonss, Norman; Reed, Arthur; VandeCreek, Larry

doi:10.1177/002234099504900402

Cited by 16 publications

(11 citation statements)

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“…The same relationship between worship and Depression is -3.29 with a p value < 0.001. This finding is consistent with an earlier study on bipolar Disorder that is cited above (Berg, 1995).…”

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 94%

The Relationship between Spiritual Distress, PTSD and Depression in Vietnam Combat Veterans

Berg

2011

J Pastoral Care Counsel

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Presents empirical data showing the relationship between combat-related posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression and spiritual distress. Uses spiritual injury scale to measure distress; scale measures guilt, anger or resentment, sadness/grief, lack of meaning, feeling God/life has treated one unfairly, religious doubt, and fear of death. Shows high association between spiritual injuries and both PTSD and depression. Also finds inverse relationship between intrinsic religious faith and these two diagnostic categories. An inverse relationship also exists between religious faith as measured by regular worship with a faith community and both depression and PTSD.glaring omission in the research and publications on combat-related posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has been the relationship among spirituality, religion, and PTSD in combat veterans. While therapists and professionals with long experience studying and treating PTSD have identified it as a matter of the human spirit and soul as well as a psychological disorder (Shay, 1995;Tick, 2005), little empirical evidence has been gathered to identify the role religious faith and spirituality play in this disorder. In an article published in the Journal of Traumatic Stress, Weaver, Koenig, and Ochberg (1996) addresses the need for improved clergy-mental health professional collaboration in the assessment and treatment of PTSD. Articles and books that have been published addressing this disorder from a spiritual reference point are often theoretical, sometimes theological, abstract and anecdotal (Jacobs, 1987;Mahedy, 1996;Siemon-Netto, 1990). Scientific investigations that have studied PTSD, on the other hand, have focused primarily on its psychological, sociological, and medical dimensions and too often neglected the -larger than life‖ issues (Denton, 1988) inherent in military combat and its consequences. As indicated by Denton, these larger than life issues include morality, life's meaning and purpose, hopelessness and despair, rage and grief, betrayal and trust, theodicy, and the empowerment to keep on going on (Hall, p. 103). These existential issues of life and death are all central to spirituality and the cultic practices of religious faith. They are also central to the spiritual injuries and stress combat veterans face, yet they are largely ignored by behavioral science in treating or helping combat veterans cope with this chronic and debilitating condition (Tick, p. 110). Information related to attendance at religious services, the impact of combat on religious faith, and the veteran's religious history before military service comprise the known information about the interrelationship of spirituality and PTSD (Drescher and Foy, 1995). The association between spiritual distress and PTSD, on the other hand, has often been overlooked. The role of religious faith in addressing spiritual distress and injury, in preventing PTSD, in coping with it once it develops, and its role in promoting recovery all merit further discussion and empirical attention.Respo...

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Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 94%

The Relationship between Spiritual Distress, PTSD and Depression in Vietnam Combat Veterans

Berg

2011

J Pastoral Care Counsel

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“…In a two-year follow-up of this sample, Pargament and colleagues reported that religious struggle was a significant predictor of increased risk for mortality, even after controlling for demographic, physical health, and mental health variables [12]. These and other studies [13][14][15][16] suggest that some types of religious struggle may contribute to poor physical or mental health outcomes for clinical samples. Evidence of the adverse effects of religious struggle in community samples has also been reported [17][18][19].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 54%

Religious Struggle: Prevalence, Correlates and Mental Health Risks in Diabetic, Congestive Heart Failure, and Oncology Patients

Fitchett

Murphy

Kim

et al. 2004

Int J Psychiatry Med

222

165

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While further research is needed to help clarify the sources, additional correlates, and course of religious struggle, the findings in this study confirm the association between religious struggle and emotional distress in these three groups of medical patients. Clinicians should be attentive to signs of religious struggle. Where patient's responses indicate possible religious struggle, clinicians should consider referral to a trained, professional chaplain or pastoral counselor.

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“…Individuals who struggle spiritually, questioning God's presence and sovereignty, report more fear, disillusionment, and distrust of the transcendent (Exline, Yali, & Lobel, 1999). Spiritual struggle has also been linked to psychological outcomes such as anxiety, depression, negative mood, panic disorder, and increased suicide rates , 2000Pargament, Koenig, Tarakeshwar, & Hahn, 2001), and to physical outcomes such as longer hospital stays (Berg, Fonss, Reed, & VandeCree, 1995) and increased mortality following medical illness (Pargament et al, 2001).…”

Section: Spiritual Strugglementioning

confidence: 99%

Spiritual Struggle

Manning-Walsh

2005

J Holist Nurs

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The Impact of Religious Faith and Practice on Patients Suffering from a Major Affective Disorder: A Cost Analysis

Cited by 16 publications

References 0 publications

The Relationship between Spiritual Distress, PTSD and Depression in Vietnam Combat Veterans

The Relationship between Spiritual Distress, PTSD and Depression in Vietnam Combat Veterans

Religious Struggle: Prevalence, Correlates and Mental Health Risks in Diabetic, Congestive Heart Failure, and Oncology Patients

Spiritual Struggle

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