Associations Between Spirituality, Meaning in Life, and Depressive Disorders Among a Sample of Individuals in Treatment for Substance-Use Disorders

Bipolar Disorder, Religion, and Spirituality: A Scoping Review

Mental health clinicians frequently study the religion and spirituality (R/S) of their patients. There is, however, a paucity of empirical research concerning R/S of patients with bipolar disorder. This lack is exacerbated by the absence of an evaluation of how these studies relate to each other. Reviews to date concern almost exclusively quantitative studies; a review that synthesizes quantitative and qualitative research is needed. The aim of this paper is to provide a synthesis of empirical studies that is useful in clinical practice. Systematic searches for relevant journal articles in SCOPUS, PubMed, and PsycInfo found 14 quantitative and four qualitative studies. The research reveals that intrinsic religiosity and positive religious coping are the dimensions of R/S that have the most positive correlations with improvement of bipolar disorder symptoms as revealed by measures of clinical outcomes. Patients struggle with their religious experiences, and they wish that R/S would be taken into account by mental health professionals. The quantitative studies are not in conflict with the patient/person-centered focus of qualitative studies. This integration of quantitative data with a patient/person-centered focus shows how belief and illness affect each other. The tensions inherent in such an integration provide new insights for research and treatment. Unfortunately, the qualitative literature has not caught up with quantitative approaches in terms of diagnostic rigor.

History of co-occurring disorders and current mental health status among homeless veterans

Background

Homeless veterans are at high risk for co-occurring disorders (COD), defined as mental illnesses that include at least one alcohol or other drug use disorder and at least one non-drug related mental disorder. However, epidemiological studies examining the prevalence of COD and associated mental health status in this population are limited. The objectives of the study were: (1) to describe a history of diagnosed mental disorders among homeless veterans admitted to a transitional housing program, and (2) to examine the associations of the prior diagnosed COD and other mental disorders with current mental health status.

Methods

Study participants were male homeless veterans admitted to a transitional housing program from July 2015 to September 2017 in a large municipal area in Northeast Ohio, the United States. Cross-sectional, self-reported data from the admission assessment were included and analyzed. History of mental disorder diagnoses were aggregated into five categories for the purpose of this study: no mental disorders, only alcohol or other drug use disorder(s), one non-drug related mental disorder, two or more non-drug related mental disorders, and COD. Current mental status were measured as empowerment, mental component summary score (MCS) and physical component summary score (PCS) of health related quality of life (VR-12), and perceived overall well-being. Sample distribution of the five categories and their associations with current mental status were examined using Generalized Linear Model test.

Results

Of all participants, 76.7% had at least one prior diagnosed mental disorder, including 47.4% with any drug-related disorders. Over one-third (37.2%) reported having COD. Compared to those with no mental disorder history, those with COD scored significantly lower on MCS and empowerment scores; those with any prior diagnosed non-drug related mental disorders also scored significantly lower on MCS. No significant differences, however, were found in current mental health status between those with COD and those with mental disorders but not COD.

Conclusions

COD prevalence among homeless veterans was within the parameter of other literature reports. Veterans with COD compared to veterans with no history of mental disorders tended to have lower MCS and empowerment scores. Veterans with COD had the same mental health status as those with other mental disorders.

The Moderating Role of Spirituality in the Association between Stress and Substance Use among Adolescents: Differences by Gender

Adolescents are exposed to various stressors that may increase the risk for substance use. Due to the detrimental, and potentially long-lasting, effects related to substance use, it is necessary to explore more optimal coping strategies. This study explored the association between substance use and stress among male and female high school students in relation to spirituality as a moderator. To examine these relationships, the study used cross-sectional data collected from 27,874 high school students (Male = 50.7%, Female = 49.3%) across 58 high schools in Maryland that included an ethnically diverse sample (49% Caucasian, 30% African American) with an average age of 16 years old. Bivariate results showed differences in substance use, stress, and spirituality between male and female students. Higher rates of substance use were generally found among male students compared to female students; rates tended to be higher among female students for stress and spirituality compared to their male counterparts. Multilevel analyses indicated a positive association between stress and substance use among male and female students after adjusting for demographic and school-level factors. Both male and female students who reported turning to spiritual beliefs when experiencing problems were less likely to use substances. However, the interaction between stress and spirituality was significant for males only. These findings suggest that stress may increase the propensity for substance use and that spirituality might be a viable coping mechanism useful for helping high school students adapt to stressful circumstances and situations.