Bipolar Disorder, Religion, and Spirituality: A Scoping Review

Jackson, Dorothy W.; McLawhorn, Donald; Slutzky, Amy; Glatt, Stephen J.; Daly, Robert W.

doi:10.1007/s10943-022-01502-y

Cited by 8 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 88 publications

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“…Our results showed that more than half of the patients who fasted regularly before the onset of BD had stopped this practice after BD onset mainly to ensure therapeutic compliance. Some studies have shown how difficult it can be for patients with BD to maintain a normal religious life due to the variability of their disease ( 35 ). They have highlighted how difficult it is to maintain institutional religious ties when others might not understand their symptoms or when their treatment regimens come into conflict with their religious beliefs ( 36 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“To fast or not to fast?” Ramadan and religiosity through the eyes of people with bipolar disorder: an exploratory study

Mejri,

Ouali,

Gronholm

et al. 2023

Front. Psychiatry

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BackgroundThe month of Ramadan, due to its changes in social rhythms, can seriously affect the course of bipolar disorder (BD). Therefore, psychiatrists sometimes find it necessary to discourage Ramadan practices, especially fasting, although taking part in this practice can give a sense of belonging and accomplishment to patients. Research on this subject is limited.AimThe aim of the present work was to explore: (i) religious practices with special attention to Ramadan before and after the onset of BD, (ii) the perceptions and behaviors related to not fasting during Ramadan in patients with BD and their families’ attitudes, (iii) religiosity and self-stigmatization and their relationships with religious practices, and (iv) the doctor-patient relationship around fasting.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective, cross-sectional and descriptive study in clinically stabilized patients with BD in a public mental hospital and in a private psychiatric practice in Tunis, Tunisia. Socio-demographic and clinical data, as well as data related to general religious practices and Ramadan practices were collected using a self-established questionnaire. We assessed (i) religiosity of the patients with the Duke University Religion Index and (ii) self-stigma using the Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness scale.ResultsOur sample consisted of 118 patients of whom 65.3% were fasting regularly before BD onset. More than half had stopped this practice following BD onset. Of the patients who did not fast, 16% felt guilty about this and 4.9% reported receiving negative remarks from their surroundings. High self-stigma scores were observed in 11% of the patients. Self-stigma was associated significantly with negative perception of not fasting, negative remarks regarding not fasting and taking both meals at regular times during Ramadan. The decision whether to fast or not was taken without seeking medical advice in 71.2% of the sample, and 16.9% of the sample reported that their psychiatrist had spontaneously approached the issue of Ramadan fasting.ConclusionReligiosity and more specifically the practice of Ramadan remains an important point that should be considered when treating patients with psychiatric problems. It seems necessary that healthcare professionals should integrate the positive and the negative side of fasting into their reflections. Our results remain exploratory and encourage further work on the subject.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“To fast or not to fast?” Ramadan and religiosity through the eyes of people with bipolar disorder: an exploratory study

Mejri,

Ouali,

Gronholm

et al. 2023

Front. Psychiatry

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“…Jackson and colleagues (Jackson et al 2022), in their recent review study of the literature to date about bipolar disorder and religion or spirituality, concluded that it is difficult to summarize the present state of affairs of scientific knowledge about the intended subject of interest. Studies use different measurements of religiosity, sometimes without being specific, and many studies lack scientific rigor.…”

Section: Future Directions For Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Because the literature is sparse, in this introduction we will first outline the general scientific state of affairs regarding bipolar disorder and religion or spirituality. Four review studies are available, all from the past 12 years, altogether containing 19 studies (Pesut et al 2011;De Fazio et al 2015;Koenig 2018;Jackson et al 2022). A variety of religious variables are used in predominantly quantitative research designs, pointing to different conclusions.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Religious Experiences in the Context of Bipolar Disorder: Serious Pathology and/or Genuine Spirituality? A Narrative Review against the Background of the Literature about Bipolar Disorder and Religion

Ouwehand

2024

Religions

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Literature about bipolar disorder and religion is scarce and primarily encompasses studies with a quantitative design. Results of such studies do not lead to unambiguous conclusions about the relation between bipolar disorder and religion that could be applied in clinical practice. The main focus of this article will be on the domain of religious experiences/religious delusions and hallucinations as explored in two recent PhD studies regarding mixed methods and qualitative research, conducted in the Netherlands and in Canada. In the narrative review of the two studies, the occurrence of different types of religious experiences and various explanatory models of patients to interpret them are presented. The interpretation of religious experiences, often related to mania, proves to be an intense quest, and often a struggle for many patients, whereby fluctuations in mood, course of the illness, religious or philosophical background, and the reactions of relatives and mental health professionals all play a role. Patients combine various explanatory models, both medical and religious/cultural, to interpret their experiences and these may fluctuate over the years. The two studies are placed in the context of literature about bipolar disorder and various aspects of religion to date. Finally, the challenges for future research and the implications for clinical practice will be outlined.

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“…While Jackson et al ( 2022 ) found there is a lack of empirical research regarding R/S in BD patients, they noted from their scoping review that the measures of clinical outcomes indicate that intrinsic religiosity and religious beliefs and practices have highly positive correlations with improvement of bipolar disorder symptoms. They also reported that their participants felt that this area (even though sometimes difficult for them to discuss) should be taken into account by clinicians.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bipolar Disorder: Identity, Social Support, Religiosity and Spirituality. Can Religiosity/Spirituality be a Mood Balancing Factor? An Italian Case Report

Santambrogio,

Maissen,

Calini

et al. 2024

J Relig Health

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This paper presents a case study to support the hypothesis that religiosity and spirituality (R/S), as mood balancing factors, could facilitate the recovery process for patients suffering from bipolar disorder (BD) once they have been stabilized and are receiving appropriate support (e.g., in a residential rehabilitative center). After a succinct review of BD and R/S, the patient’s medical history and rehabilitation pathway are described, with a particular focus on the role played by R/S. The authors found that in this case, once the patient was stabilized, R/S helped to consolidate her feelings of well-being, increasing her positive perception of social support services and ultimately her self-confidence.

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Bipolar Disorder, Religion, and Spirituality: A Scoping Review

Cited by 8 publications

References 88 publications

“To fast or not to fast?” Ramadan and religiosity through the eyes of people with bipolar disorder: an exploratory study

“To fast or not to fast?” Ramadan and religiosity through the eyes of people with bipolar disorder: an exploratory study

Religious Experiences in the Context of Bipolar Disorder: Serious Pathology and/or Genuine Spirituality? A Narrative Review against the Background of the Literature about Bipolar Disorder and Religion

Bipolar Disorder: Identity, Social Support, Religiosity and Spirituality. Can Religiosity/Spirituality be a Mood Balancing Factor? An Italian Case Report

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