Abstract
Since the end of twentieth century, a crescent number of studies have reported the influence of religiosity and spirituality on health. In view of this evidence, strategies have been proposed for stimulating this dimension in individuals, especially patients coping with diseases. However, only a few studies manage to apply careful and sound methodological designs to assess the effect and mechanisms of religious/spiritual interventions (RSIs) involving randomized clinical trials. In these studies, RSIs presented similar or superior results when compared to other complementary approaches in alleviating suffering or promoting health. The most common reports in the literature associated with RSIs are: a reduction in anxiety and stress symptoms, a decrease in the intensity of addictive drug consumption, diminishing depressive symptoms and lowering levels of emotional exhaustion in health professionals. Nonetheless, the RSIs applied in these studies are quite heterogeneous, and therefore, in the future necessitating a standardization of procedures and training of facilitators or health professionals. In addition, emphasis has also been placed on the need of a rigorous methodological design for this type of intervention in other to obtain a more reliable and robust data. In conclusion, what has already been observed in clinical practice, is now in process to be confirmed in well-conducted clinical trials. The search and evaluation of the RSIs will also help to understand the underlying mechanisms of this type of intervention and to contribute to developing better strategies of complementary health treatment.
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Gonçalves, J.P.d.B., Vallada, H. (2019). Religious and Spiritual Interventions in Health: Scientific Evidence. In: Lucchetti, G., Prieto Peres, M.F., Damiano, R.F. (eds) Spirituality, Religiousness and Health. Religion, Spirituality and Health: A Social Scientific Approach, vol 4. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-21221-6_7
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