Focus on Alternative and Complementary Therapies
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Focus Alternat Complement Ther©2005 Pharmaceutical Press
Focus Altern Complement Ther 2003; 8: 523
This study aimed to evaluate the impact of a spirituality home-study programme on mood disturbance in emotionally distressed patients.
A total of 156 individuals with distress (a score of > 40 on the Profile of Mood States) were recruited from primary care clinics in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Participants were randomised to a spirituality group (8-week, taped, spirituality home-study programme), a meditation group (attendance of mindfulness meditation classes for 8 weeks) or a waitlist control group. Outcome measures were mood disturbance [Profile of Mood States (POMS)], quality of life (SF-36) and spirituality levels (Spiritual Involvement and Beliefs Scale).
Spirituality participants had significantly improved total mood disturbance scores (the score decreased by 41%) and POMS subscale scores (vigor+ < 81%, tension –64%, confusion –61%, depressed mood –53%, anger –48% and fatigue –46%) after 8 weeks. The mean change in total POMS scores for spirituality participants was –38.8 (95% CI –30.8 to –46.8) and –20.1 (95% CI –12.5 to –29.0) and –10.3 (95% CI –4.5 to –16.1) for meditation and control participants. SF-36 mental health scores improved by 80% for spirituality participants compared with 40% and 26% for meditation and control participants, respectively. Spirituality levels also increased more for spirituality participants than for the other two groups.
The spirituality programme significantly reduces mood disturbance and improves mental-health-related quality of life. The programme could be a resource for family physicians when assisting their emotionally distressed patients.
