Empirically supported religious and spiritual therapies

Abstract

This article evaluated the efficacy status of religious and spiritual (R/S) therapies for mental health problems, including treatments for depression, anxiety, unforgiveness, eating disorders, schizophrenia, alcoholism, anger, and marital issues. Religions represented included Christianity, Islam, Taoism, and Buddhism. Some studies incorporated a generic spirituality. Several R/S therapies were found to be helpful for clients, supporting the further use and research on these therapies. There was limited evidence that R/S therapies outperformed established secular therapies, thus the decision to use an R/S therapy may be an issue of client preference and therapist comfort.

20201218

“…4. Finally, data from outcome research studies have supported the idea that spiritual and religious approaches to treatment have been effective in treating many psychosocial issues (Anderson, Heywood-Everett, Siddiqi, Wright, Meredith, & McMillan, 2015;Hook, Worthington, Davis, Jennings, Gartner, & Hook, 2010;McCullough, 1999;Smith, Bartz, & Richards, 2007;Worthington, Hook, Davis, & McDaniel, 2011;Worthington, Kurusu, McCullough, & Sandage, 1996;Worthington & Sandage, 2001). …”

“…Studies clearly demonstrate that religiously oriented therapies have a positive impact in the treatment of religiously observant clients when treatment goals are framed within their spiritual context (Anderson et al, 2015;Hook et al, 2010;Martinez, Smith, & Barlow, 2007;Worthington, Hook, Davis, & McDaniel, 2011).…”

Testing the Effectiveness of Cognitive Analytic Therapy for Hypersexuality Disorder: An Intensive Time-Series Evaluation

“…≥1.96). For this change to be clinically significant the final SCS score would need to be <23 (Hook, Hook, Davis, Worthington & Penberthy, 2010). A reliable and clinically significant change in hypersexuality would be recorded should both a positive RCI statistic occur and the termination score place the patient within a community norm on the SCS.…”

The Role of Religion and Spirituality in Olav's Treatment and Recovery: Commentary on an Exemplary Case Report

“…Christian and Muslim cognitive approaches for clients with depression and anxiety meet evidence-based standards of efficacy. There is also preliminary evidence supporting the probably efficacy of a variety of other types of spiritual psychotherapies, including a Taoist CBT approach for anxiety, a theistic spirituality group for eating disorders, and a Buddhist CBT approach for anger (Hook, Worthington, Davis, Jennings, Gartner, & Hook, 2010). Nevertheless, the data base is relatively small and has numerous methodological limitations.…”