Curative value of belief in God

[Dalubaba]

Belief in a Caring God Improves Response to Medical Treatment for Depression, Study Finds
ScienceDaily (Feb. 24, 2010) — Research suggests that religious belief can help protect against symptoms of depression, but a study at Rush University Medical Center goes one step further.
________________________________________
In patients diagnosed with clinical depression, belief in a concerned God can improve response to medical treatment, according to a paper in the Journal of Clinical Psychology.
A total of 136 adults diagnosed with major depression or bipolar depression at inpatient and outpatient psychiatric care facilities in Chicago participated in the study. The patients were surveyed shortly after admission for treatment and eight weeks later, using the Beck Depression Inventory, the Beck Hopelessness Scale, and the Religious Well-Being Scale -- all standard instruments in the social sciences for assessing intensity, severity and depth of disease and feelings of hopelessness and spiritual satisfaction.
Response to medication, defined as a 50-percent reduction in symptoms, can vary in psychiatric patients. Some may not respond at all. But the study found that those with strong beliefs in a personal and concerned God were more likely to experience an improvement. Specifically, participants who scored in the top third of the Religious Well-Being Scale were 75-percent more likely to get better with medical treatment for clinical depression.
The researchers tested whether the explanation for the improved response was linked instead to the feeling of hope, which is typically a feature of religious belief. But degree of hopefulness, measured by feelings and expectations for the future and degree of motivation, did not predict whether a patient fared better on anti-depressants.
"In our study, the positive response to medication had little to do with the feeling of hope that typically accompanies spiritual belief," said Patricia Murphy, PhD, a chaplain at Rush and an assistant professor of religion, health and human values at Rush University. "It was tied specifically to the belief that a Supreme Being cared."
"For people diagnosed with clinical depression, medication certainly plays an important role in reducing symptoms," Murphy said. "But when treating persons diagnosed with depression, clinicians need to be aware of the role of religion in their patients' lives. It is an important resource in planning their care."
George Fitchett, PhD, also a chaplain at Rush and the director of the religion, health and human values program at Rush University, co-authored the study.
Email or share this story:

[heyjude1]

Yes, I agree. I believe some of us  (myself included) are a little slow at learning from these lessons and thus get to repeat them with all the pain that comes with them but it is worth it..

[Dazon50]

I slipped over to the Depression Community to read what you wrote.  Good postings :-))

Also enjoyed reading your post also, heyjude1 :-)))

I can say truthfully that I tell God that I won't make it through this life without Him....His guidance, support, help.  There is so much to sink us in negativity and darkness/ignorance.......

I don't think we can get through life without suffering, pain and woes to stretch us and teach us things.  It took me some wrestling time to accept that.  It is by going through the hard times that we can be changed for the better.  The hope that comes with that is comforting.

[heyjude1]

I certainly believe that my faith and trust in the Lord has helped me thru many rough times in my life. I feel that having a personal relationship with Him allows us to lean on Him and know that he loves us and is with us as we walk thru these valleys on our journey.  Yes, I am a believer and I still suffer from severe depression but I guess that is my cross to bare.  I would hate to try to live with  MI without Him.  He never promised us heaven on Earth but he did promise to within our heart and soul and to guide us down the path of life to heaven.

[boogieman]

Hello. I responded to this identical post in the depression community and was just wondering if my comments (I replied twice) reflect the views of others. Most of the other replies were either pro- Christian or had anti religious undertones. I tried to differentiate between religion and spirituality, as well as relate my own observations. Just curious GM-

[Cloudwindgate]

This isnt all that shocking. Pandora opens a box and hell comes out but the last thing that comes from it is hope. Hope is very powerful. IF we hope for things anything we are standing a ground. That is power. Depression is stress and at times when we dont have to believe that we must hold it all on our own we do better.  

[Dazon50]

I agree also that believing in God and Him loving us/caring about what happens makes a real difference. The willingness to do things that will aid in getting better provides further motivation to move in a positive direction believing God is with each step of the way.

[iam1butterfly]

I agree that there is much to one's belief in God.
It's consistent with positive thinking.
Together, the mind and the spirit can become a powerful force.