Published in the Focus on Alternative and Complementary Therapies Newsletter, Volume 8, Issue 4, December 2003.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the impact of a spirituality home-study programme on mood disturbance in emotionally distressed patients.

Method: A total of 156 individuals with distress (a score of >40 on the Profile of Mood States) were recruited from primary care clinics in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Participants were randomized to a spirituality group (8-week, taped, spirituality home-study programme), a meditation group (attendance of mindfulness meditation classes for 8 weeks) or a waitlist control group. Outcome measures were mood disturbance [Profile of Mood states (POMS)], quality of life (SF-36) and spirituality levels [Spiritual Involvement and Beliefs Scale (SIBS)]

Results: Spirituality participants had significantly improved total mood disturbance scores (the score decreased by 41%) and POMS subscale scores (vigor +<81%, tension -64%, confusion -61%, depressed mood -53%, anger -48% and fatigue -46%) after 8 weeks. The mean change in total POMS scores for spirituality participants was -38.8% (95% CI -30.8 to -46.8) and -20.1 (95% CI -12.5 to -29.0) and -10.3 (95% CI -4.5 to -16.1) for meditation and control participants. SF-36 mental health scores improved by 80% for spirituality participants compared with 40% and 26% for meditation and control participants, respectively. Spirituality levels also increased more for spirituality participants than for the other two groups.

Conclusion: The spirituality programme significantly reduces mood disturbance and improves mental-health-related quality of life.

Clinical Implications:
• The programme could be a resource for family physicians when assisting their emotionally distressed patients.