Religiosity and spirituality in patients with epilepsy

Abstract

Religiosity and spirituality (R/S) are widely regarded as important allies against illness and suffering in general. Findings in temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) suggest the temporal lobe as the anatomical-functional basis of religious experiences. Both R/S are relevant in patients with epilepsy (PWE) since epilepsy can lead to psychosocial issues for a significant portion of patients and their families. Objective: To investigate R/S in PWE, as well as the impact of different epileptic syndromes on patients' R/S. Methods: One hundred PWE and 50 healthy volunteers matched for age, sex and educational level were submitted to an interview, as well as three previously validated questionnaires: Index of Core Spiritual Experience (INSPIRIT-R), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and the Quality of Life in Epilepsy Inventory (QOLIE-31). Results: PWE's and control's mean ages were 35.9 ± 12.4 vs. 36.3 ± 18.1 years, mean schooling was 8.9 ± 3.7 vs. 10.1 ± 4.2 years. The mean age of epilepsy onset was 14.5 ± 12.1 and monthly frequency of seizures was 5.9 ± 12.6. INSPIRIT-R's scores were not statistically significantly different between patients and controls (3.0 ± 0.8 vs. 3.0 ± 0.8); however, INSPIRIT-R's scores were significantly higher in TLE patients when compared with other epilepsy syndromes (3.2 ± 0.7 vs. 2.8 ± 0.9; p = 0.04). Conclusion: Temporal lobe epilepsy patients have higher levels of R/S.

Religious Experience and Clinical-EEG Aspects in Adult People with Epilepsy

“…7,20 The spiritual experience did not differ according to the epileptic syndrome. Some studies have described hyperreligiousness and greater religious conviction 12,15,16 and greater spirituality in TLE-HS. 14,16 However, other studies have found no difference in spirituality according to temporal or extratemporal epilepsy.…”

“…Some studies have described hyperreligiousness and greater religious conviction 12,15,16 and greater spirituality in TLE-HS. 14,16 However, other studies have found no difference in spirituality according to temporal or extratemporal epilepsy. 15 There was an association between a greater perception of spiritual experiences and EA in the right hemisphere, in the EEG.…”

“…Greater spirituality, higher religious involvement, and the presence of religious experiences in the ictal and interictal period have been recognized in epilepsy since the early 19th century, particularly in temporal lobe epilepsy. [10][11][12][13][14][15][16] However, pieces of information about everyday spiritual experiences in epilepsy are still scarce. The study of the relationship between epilepsy and spirituality, religiosity and spiritual experiences can open new paths and aid in the production of knowledge in this area.…”

Spirituality and religiosity expressed by relatives of drug users: contributions to health care

“…Spirituality is a more personal and existential construct of belief in (or relationship with) a higher power or divinity, involving the search for self-knowledge and philosophical questioning of the existence of the universe and life (10) . Religiosity, on the other hand, includes personal beliefs (in divinity or a higher power) gathered by an organized system of symbols and practices as a means of approaching the metaphysical and transcendental dimension through institutional practices, belonging and doctrinal commitments to churches or organized religions (11)(12)(13) .…”

Espiritualidade e religiosidade expressas por familiares de usuários de drogas: contribuições ao cuidado em saúde

“…O termo espiritualidade, enquanto distinto de religião ou religiosidade, é considerado um conceito recente no mundo ocidental que data da década de 1960 (9) A espiritualidade trata-se de um construto de dimensão mais pessoal e existencial de crença em (ou relação com) um poder superior ou divindade, envolvendo a busca pelo autoconhecimento e questionamento filosófico da existência do universo e da vida (10) . Já a religiosidade inclui crenças pessoais (em divindade ou um poder superior) capturadas por um sistema organizado de símbolos e práticas como meio de se aproximar da dimensão metafísica e transcendental mediante práticas institucionais, de pertença e compromissos doutrinários junto a igrejas ou religiões organizadas (11)(12)(13) .…”