Abstract
Spiritual matters can be an important part in the recovery process of patients with schizophrenia. A spirituality-based therapeutic group was developed for patients hospitalized on a research specialty unit jointly operated by a state hospital and a research institute. This report offers a description of this program and examines potential associations between spirituality and coping in patients with schizophrenia who either attended or did not attend the inpatient spirituality group. We compared group attendees (n = 20) with non-attendees (n = 20) cross-sectionally, using measures of spirituality, self-efficacy (i.e. the confidence in one’s ability), quality of life, and hopefulness, and religious/personal demographic profiles. For the total sample, spirituality status was significantly correlated with self-efficacy for both social functioning and negative symptoms. Significant differences were found between group attendees and non-attendees for spirituality status, but not for self-efficacy or quality of life. For group attendees, spirituality status was significantly correlated with self-efficacy for positive symptoms, negative symptoms and social functioning. Group attendees were significantly more hopeful than non-attendees and hopefulness was significantly associated with degree of spirituality status. These findings lend support for offering spirituality groups and positive coping during recovery from psychiatric disabilities.
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Notes
We seek to explore the healing power of our spiritual experiences. We promise to share our ideas with kindness and respect for one another. We agree to be open to one another’s spiritual journeys.
Give me light and insight so that I may trust. Let me learn the way of peace so that I may grow…. May those who find themselves off track, be guided. May those who are afraid, find comfort. And may we all find patience on our path.
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Acknowledgements
Occupational Therapy students Therese Allen, Donna Roberto, Christina DePiano, Janice Leach, and Cate Hutchison assisted with the data collection.
Disclosures
Nadine Revheim has no commercial interests to disclose. William M. Greenberg is currently an employee of Forest Research Institute. Leslie Citrome, is a consultant for, has received honoraria from, or has conducted clinical research supported by the following: Abbott Laboratories, AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals, Avanir Pharmaceuticals, Azur Pharma Inc, Barr Laboratories, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Eli Lilly and Company, Forest Research Institute, GlaxoSmithKline, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Jazz Pharmaceuticals, Merck, Novartis, Pfizer Inc, and Vanda Pharmaceuticals.
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Revheim, N., Greenberg, W.M. & Citrome, L. Spirituality, Schizophrenia, and State Hospitals: Program Description and Characteristics of Self-Selected Attendees of a Spirituality Therapeutic Group. Psychiatr Q 81, 285–292 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11126-010-9137-z
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11126-010-9137-z