Focus on Alternative and Complementary Therapies
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Focus Alternat Complement Ther©2005 Pharmaceutical Press
Focus Altern Complement Ther 2006; 11: 32
This research aimed to assess the efficacy of a spirituality teaching programme for unipolar major depression.
This is a parallel-group, randomised, controlled, assessor-blinded trial. A total of 84 individuals with clinical diagnosed unipolar major depression of mild to moderate severity were recruited in Calgary, Canada and randomised to two study arms: (i) spirituality group (8-week, home-based spirituality teaching programme) and (ii) waitlist control group. Participants were assessed at baseline, 8, 16 and 24 weeks. Outcome measures (depression severity, response rate, remission rate) were based on the HAMD. Mood disturbance was measured by the Profile of Mood States (POMS).
Interim analysis of 53 participants showed a significant difference in depression severity change at 8 weeks between the two groups (spirituality group HAMD score 10, waitlist control group HAMD score 1.5, P < 1e-05). The depression response rate, remission rate and mood disturbance percentage change also differed significantly (P < 0.001) between the two groups (spirituality group: response rate 48%, remission rate 44%, POMS change −79%; waitlist control group: response rate 7%, remission rate 4%, POMS change −22%).
Preliminary results suggest that the tested spirituality programme can significantly reduce depression severity and mood disturbance and achieves response and remission rates similar to those reported for pharmacotherapy. Follow up is continuing at this stage but final results will be available for presentation in December.
Funded by the Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research, Max Bell Foundation and Norlien Foundation.
