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A Preliminary 6-Month Prospective Study Examining Self-reported Religious Preference, Religiosity/Spirituality, and Retention at a Jewish Residential Treatment Center for Substance-Related Disorders

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Abstract

Although there is a substantial amount of research suggesting that higher levels of religiosity/spirituality (R/S) are associated with better treatment outcomes of substance-related disorders, no studies have explored this relationship at a faith-based residential treatment center. The objective of this prospective study is to explore the relationship between R/S, self-reported religious preference, and retention at a Jewish residential treatment center for substance-related disorders. Using the Daily Spiritual Experience Scale, R/S levels were assessed for 33 subjects at baseline, 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months. Results demonstrated a significant relationship between baseline R/S level and retention at 6 months, while R/S levels were unchanged during the course of treatment. Notably, no relationship was found between self-reported religious affiliation and retention. This study demonstrates that patients’ R/S level, rather than religious affiliation, is a possible predictor for better outcome at faith-based residential centers for substance-related disorders.

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Acknowledgements

This project was partially funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (grant no. K23DA 19522-2) and the Annenberg Foundation. The authors greatly appreciate the opportunity to collect data at Beit T’Shuvah and the support of Dr. Bill Resnick, Mrs. Harriet Rossetto, and Rabbi Mark Borovitz. The views expressed herein are not necessarily those of Beit T’Shuvah.

Conflict of Interest Statement

None of the authors report any conflict of interest related to this work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, 760 Westwood Plaza, Mailcode 175919, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA

    Iman Parhami MD, MPH, Margarit Davtian MA, Michael Collard MA, Jean Lopez BSc & Timothy W. Fong MD

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  1. Iman Parhami MD, MPH
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  2. Margarit Davtian MA
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Correspondence to Iman Parhami MD, MPH.

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Parhami, I., Davtian, M., Collard, M. et al. A Preliminary 6-Month Prospective Study Examining Self-reported Religious Preference, Religiosity/Spirituality, and Retention at a Jewish Residential Treatment Center for Substance-Related Disorders. J Behav Health Serv Res 41, 390–401 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11414-012-9279-x

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