Published in the Alberta CAM Research Network Newsletter, Issue 3, March 2003

Objective: To investigate whether emotionally distressed individuals who work through an 8-week spirituality programme (spirituality group) show a significant improvement in their psychological well-being compared to a waitlist control group and compared to patients who attend weekly classes on mindfulness meditation (meditation group).

Method: The study population consisted of 165 emotionally distressed, self-referred individuals from Calgary who were recruited on the basis of an elevated mood disturbance score; no psychiatric assessment was performed for this study. The primary outcome, mood disturbance, was measured by the Profile of Mood States (POMS). Patients’ spirituality (Spiritual Involvement and Beliefs Scale = SIBS) was measured as a secondary endpoint.

Results: After the 8-week intervention period, mood disturbance of the participants in the spirituality group had decreased by 41%, as compared to a decrease of 23% in the meditation group and 11% in the control group. The differences between the spirituality group and the control group, but also between the spirituality group and the meditation group were statistically significant. The difference between the meditation and the control group was not statistically significant. Spiritual involvement and beliefs increased most in the spirituality group, less in the meditation group and least in the control group. The differences between the spirituality and the control group and the spirituality and meditation group were statistically significant, however the difference between the control and the meditation group was not.

In addition to the randomized trial, 14 qualitative interviews were conducted to allow a better understanding of how the spirituality programme may have impacted participants’ mood. In these interviews, participants reported a shift in their general outlook on life. There was a greater sense of purpose and meaning, more trust and hope that difficult life situations could be resolved or handled, a greater awareness of being a spiritual being and an expansion of previous beliefs, and a sense of connectedness with other beings, nature, the universe or a higher power. Interviewees also reported a shift in their view of oneself and others. They indicated that they had less of an inward focus, less absorption with one’s own issues and a sense of gratitude. They were less judgmental and more compassionate and had an increased interest in others and an increased desire to relate to others. Participants linked their improved mood to their altered view of others and their changed outlook on life.

Conclusion: Results from this trial suggest that a home based, 8 week spirituality education programme can significantly reduce mood disturbance. Measurements of spirituality levels and findings from qualitative interviews both indicate that the programme supports a more spiritual outlook on life.