Belief In A Caring God Helps With Depression

Saturday, February 27, 2010
By Jim, posted in Health

Although there is research available that suggests that religious belief helps with depression, a study at Russ University Medical Center goes one step further.

According to a paper in the Journal of Clinical Psychology, belief in a concerned God can improve response to medical treatment in patients diagnosed with clinical depression.

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.

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.”

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3 Responses to “Belief In A Caring God Helps With Depression”

  1. marilyn wenrick

    I believe and believe I am a living example of that. In my case, not depression, but physical, which could have led to depression.

    #1907
  2. marilyn wenrick

    I believe and believe I am a living example of that. In my case, not depression but physical which could lead to depression

    #1974
  3. Hope Haven

    Spring is in the air … while bulbs are pushing their way above the surface o the earth,
    tiny patches of snow linger as if refusing to melt in safe harbors of darkness.

    Hope warms the heart and melts the icy insecurities of our circumstances
    when one invests in a personal pursuit to know the Supreme Being
    of Whom the Scriptures are written to reveal.

    #2024

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