Spirituality in Clinical Practice3.2 (Jun 2016): 92-114.
Religion and spirituality are important aspects of human diversity that should receive adequate attention in cultural competence training for psychologists. Furthermore, spiritual and religious beliefs and practices are relevant to psychological and emotional well-being, and clinicians who are trained to sensitively address these domains in their clinical practice should be more effective. Our research team previously published a set of 16 religious and spiritual competencies based on a combination of focus group and survey research with the intent that they could be used to guide training. In the present study, we conducted a survey to determine whether these competencies would be acceptable to a broader population of practicing clinicians. Results indicate a large degree of support for the proposed competencies. Between 73.0 and 94.1% of respondents agreed that psychologists should receive training and demonstrate competence in each of the 16 areas. The majority (52.2%–80.7%) indicated that they had received little or no training, and between 29.7% and 58.6% had received no training at all, in these competencies. We conclude with recommendations for integrating these religious and spiritual competencies more fully into clinical training and practice. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)(journal abstract) To read the full article, log in using your NHS OpenAthens details
Palliative care advocates a holistic, multiprofessional approach to the care of people with life-threatening disease. In addition to the control of physical symptoms attention should also be paid to psychosocial, cultural and spiritual aspects of the patient's experience of illness. Guidance documents and research evidence reflect the complexity of the patient's journey and the need to regularly assess these areas of need over time. Cultural background can shape how patients respond to life-threatening illness, as can the beliefs held by the patients, whether religious or more broadly spiritual. Research evidence shows the importance of identifying and addressing cultural and spiritual aspects of care held by patients, families and staff. These are often neglected in clinical practice due to the focus on biomedical concerns and staff discomfort in engaging with beliefs and culture. Recent studies have highlighted gaps in the research, and some methodological difficulties and indicate many patients welcome healthcare staff enquiring about the importance of their beliefs and culture. Identifying research priorities is necessary to guide future research and strengthen the evidence base. To read the full article, log in using your NHS OpenAthens details
Palliative care advocates a holistic, multiprofessional approach to the care of people with life-threatening disease. In addition to the control of physical symptoms attention should also be paid to psychosocial, cultural and spiritual aspects of the patient's experience of illness. Guidance documents and research evidence reflect the complexity of the patient's journey and the need to regularly assess these areas of need over time. Cultural background can shape how patients respond to life-threatening illness, as can the beliefs held by the patients, whether religious or more broadly spiritual. Research evidence shows the importance of identifying and addressing cultural and spiritual aspects of care held by patients, families and staff. These are often neglected in clinical practice due to the focus on biomedical concerns and staff discomfort in engaging with beliefs and culture. Recent studies have highlighted gaps in the research, and some methodological difficulties and indicate many patients welcome healthcare staff enquiring about the importance of their beliefs and culture. Identifying research priorities is necessary to guide future research and strengthen the evidence base. To read the full article, log in using your NHS OpenAthens details
This systematic literature review analyzed the construct of spirituality as perceived by people who have experienced or are experiencing a major life event or transition. You can request a copy of this article by replying to this email. Please ensure you are clear which article you requesting.
Spirituality in Clinical Practice4.1 (Mar 2017): 1-21.
The aim of the current investigation was to explore potential subtypes of depressive symptomatology from a phenomenological vantage point, focusing on dimensions of spirituality, positive human functioning, and character strengths. The study examines distinct presentational depressive symptom profiles in light of recent research on developmental depression—defined as depressive symptomatology that may characterize periods of major spiritual development, life transition, existential upheaval, and personal growth. To read the full article, log in using your NHS OpenAthens details.
The promotion of subjective well-being or wellness is an important aim of both policy and practice. Yet, little research has examined wellness among Muslims, despite the growth in the Muslim population and the discrimination they can encounter in the West. To address this gap in the literature, a model of wellness was developed and tested using structural equation modelling (SEM) with a sample of Muslims living in the USA (N = 265).
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The Dewnans Centre at Langdon has recently opened its new Reflection Room in the Therapies corridor.
John Enever, one of the chaplains at Langdon, said: "We felt it was important for patients to have a place to just sit and reflect, away from the normal activities of the hospital; a place that is private but not exclusive.
Family is one of the primary sources of spiritual care for people with schizophrenia. Gaps in perspectives between family care-givers and patients not only result in improper spiritual care, but also lead to family conflicts and hamper recovery. Yet, the mutual understanding of spirituality among both parties is often neglected. We here reported part of a larger study that explored the meaning and the role of spirituality in schizophrenia rehabilitation from the perspectives of patients, mental-health professionals and family care-givers. The result suggests that discrepancies in conceptions of spirituality between patients and their care-givers may affect patients’ family dynamic and their recovery
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Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy (Dec 20, 2018). DOI:10.1037/tra0000426
Objective: Religious coping has been shown to relate to psychological adjustment in survivors of disasters months or even years afterward. However, because very few studies have assessed coping and well-being during the immediate crisis, little is known about the role of religiousness at this critical time.. To read the full article, log in using your NHS OpenAthens details.
Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology85.10 (Oct 2017): 937-949.
Objective: People dealing with serious mental illness frequently report turning to religion to help cope with the disorder. However, little is known about how religion impacts commitment to psychotherapy programs for people with schizophrenia and their caregivers. To read the full article, log in using your NHS OpenAthens details.
Letter. Login using your SSSFT NHS OpenAthens for full text. SSOTP - You can request a copy of this article by replying to this email. Please ensure you are clear which article you are requesting.
Psychology of Religion and Spirituality8.1 (Feb 2016): 54-64.
Religiousness has frequently been found to be associated with higher reported mental health levels than those found in individuals lower in reported religiousness. These results have often been inferred by scholars to mean that secular groups have poorer levels of mental health despite the fact that secular populations have rarely been included in studies. In this study, an ideologically diverse sample of 4,667 respondents was included to determine the relationships among general dogmatism levels, existential dogmatism, religiousness, and 5 indicators of mental health. To read the full article, log in using your NHS OpenAthens details
Preserving cognitive health is a crucial aspect of healthy ageing. Both abnormal and normal cognitive decline can adversely affect the health of ageing populations. Evidence suggests religious involvement (RI) can preserve cognition in ageing populations. The primary purpose of this review is to examine the evidence regarding the association between RI and cognition from a life-course perspective. Open Access Article
Psychology of Religion and Spirituality Vol. 10, Iss. 1, (Feb 2018): 79-87.
We compared the effectiveness of religiously integrated cognitive–behavioral therapy (RCBT) versus conventional CBT (CCBT) on decreasing suicidal thoughts in persons with major depressive disorder (MDD) and chronic medical illness (CMI).. To read the full article, log in using your NHS OpenAthens details.
Spirituality in Clinical Practice (Jul 12, 2018). DOI:10.1037/scp0000174
In this paper, we described how we have recently incorporated compassion training in the form of Loving Kindness Meditation into an existing psychotherapy for war-related PTSD called Adaptive Disclosure. We provided background to support the assumption that targeting compassion deficits in war-related trauma may improve mental and behavioral health by helping patients engage in adaptive and potentially reparative behaviors, particularly improving social connections. We also described how compassion training may help veterans suffering from traumatic loss and moral injury, specifically. Throughout, we provide clinical heuristics that may help care providers who work with veterans who have experienced diverse war traumas.. To read the full article, log in using your NHS OpenAthens details.
Many studies show that people experiencing psychosis find religion and spirituality to be helpful during times of distress, yet nurses often lack training and confidence to respond to the spiritual needs of their patients. This article begins with an overview of the largely medical model through which psychosis is assessed and addressed in the UK, followed by some definitions of spirituality and religion. Then using a case study of Lucy, a 60-year-old African-Caribbean woman, a critical analysis considers if and how engagement with her religious beliefs in an acute inpatient setting could have improved the nurse-patient relationship and promoted recovery from an acute psychotic episode. The impact of task-driven nursing care upon meaningful engagement is explored and nurses are encouraged to focus on quality rather than length of nurse-patient interactions. The association between religiosity and psychopathology is then considered in terms of impact upon person-centred care. The value of co-creating a narrative with patients in order to promote engagement and recovery is discussed. To read the full article, log in using your NHS OpenAthens details.
Spirituality in Clinical Practice3.1 (Mar 2016): 14-17.
A systematic bias leading to clinically and ethically problematic neglect of spirituality in the mental health professions is discussed. Relevant data suggesting the presence of this bias are reviewed and the form the bias often takes in practice is illustrated through a composite case example. Login using your SSSFT NHS OpenAthens for full text. SSOTP - request a copy of the article from the library - http://bit.ly/1Xyazai
Spirituality in Clinical Practice3.3 (Sep 2016): 153-154.
This special section focuses on the unique ethical challenges in psychiatric practice, particularly when those challenges involve religious and spiritual beliefs, practices, or concerns. This article provides both an introduction and context for this special section as well as an overview of the articles that follow. To read the full article, log in using your NHS OpenAthens details.