Faith-Based Spiritual Intervention for Persons with Depression: Preliminary Evidence from a Pilot Study

Abstract

Depression is a common, depleting, and potentially life-threatening disorder. This pilot study examined the feasibility and applicability, reported preliminary evidence for effectiveness, and explored the potential healing mechanisms of a faith-based spiritual intervention for people with depression. The intervention consisted of six weekly sessions focused on restoring a connection with the divine, forgiveness and freedom, suffering and transcendence, hope, gratitude, and relapse prevention. Seven adults with mild or moderate depressive symptoms were recruited. A qualitative evaluation was conducted via focus group discussions, and rating scales were administered at baseline, after the intervention, and at the 3-month follow-up. The mean difference scores of the treatment’s effect over time were analyzed using Friedman’s ANOVA. The themes identified by the focus group included the meaning of the spiritual intervention, the effect of involvement in a spiritual group, and the therapeutic components. The results indicated a significant decrease in the mean scores for depression (PHQ-9) after intervention and at the 3-month follow-up. Participants expressed their improvement in terms of increased knowledge about depression, enhanced coping mechanisms, and improved self-esteem. The preliminary evidence suggested that the faith-based spiritual intervention was effective in reducing depressive symptoms and also helped participants develop a greater sense of connection with themselves, others, and their environment.

Prayer Addiction and Psycho-Spiritual Wellbeing among the Selected Female Religious Congregation in Nigeria.

“…This affirms the study done by Azizah et.al (2023), who opined that in experiencing positive experience with God, the development of positive personal practices and positive experiences with others is essential in providing mental and spiritual-religious well-being. In a similar vein, Leung et al (2023) assert that spiritual intervention as a journey of spiritual growth encompasses various dimensions such as divine power, guidance, inspiration, scripture, comfort, progress, personal experiences, and prayer can lead to a process of spiritual transformation.…”