Religious and spiritual interventions in mental health care

Two articles were published recently (July and August of 2015) that discuss the importance of spirituality in well being and psychological resilience.

Religious and spiritual interventions in mental health care: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled clinical trials.
RESULTS: Through this method, 4751 papers were obtained, of which 23 remained included. The meta-analysis showed significant effects of religious/spiritual interventions (RSI) on anxiety general symptoms (p < 0.001) and in subgroups: meditation (p < 0.001); psychotherapy (p = 0.02); 1 month of follow-up (p < 0.001); and comparison groups with interventions (p < 0.001). Two significant differences were found in depressive symptoms: between 1 and 6 months and comparison groups with interventions (p = 0.05). In general, studies have shown that RSI decreased stress, alcoholism and depression.
CONCLUSIONS: RCTs on RSI showed additional benefits including reduction of clinical symptoms (mainly anxiety). The diversity of protocols and outcomes associated with a lack of standardization of interventions point to the need for further studies evaluating the use of religiosity/spirituality as a complementary treatment in health care.
Gonçalves JP, Lucchetti G, Menezes PR, Vallada H.
Psychol Med. 2015 Jul 23:1-13. [Epub ahead of print]
PMID: 26200715
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Psilocybin-induced spiritual experiences and insightfulness are associated with synchronization of neuronal oscillations.
RATIONALE: During the last years, considerable progress has been made toward understanding the neuronal basis of consciousness by using sophisticated behavioral tasks, brain-imaging techniques, and various psychoactive drugs. Nevertheless, the neuronal mechanisms underlying some of the most intriguing states of consciousness, including spiritual experiences, remain unknown.
OBJECTIVES: To elucidate state of consciousness-related neuronal mechanisms, human subjects were given psilocybin, a naturally occurring serotonergic agonist and hallucinogen that has been used for centuries to induce spiritual experiences in religious and medical rituals.
METHODS: In this double-blind, placebo-controlled study, 50 healthy human volunteers received a moderate dose of psilocybin, while high-density electroencephalogram (EEG) recordings were taken during eyes-open and eyes-closed resting states. The current source density and the lagged phase synchronization of neuronal oscillations across distributed brain regions were computed and correlated with psilocybin-induced altered states of consciousness.
RESULTS: Psilocybin decreased the current source density of neuronal oscillations at 1.5-20 Hz within a neural network comprising the anterior and posterior cingulate cortices and the parahippocampal regions. Most intriguingly, the intensity levels of psilocybin-induced spiritual experience and insightfulness correlated with the lagged phase synchronization of delta oscillations (1.5-4 Hz) between the retrosplenial cortex, the parahippocampus, and the lateral orbitofrontal area.
CONCLUSIONS: These results provide systematic evidence for the direct association of a specific spatiotemporal neuronal mechanism with spiritual experiences and enhanced insight into life and existence. The identified mechanism may constitute a pathway for modulating mental health, as spiritual experiences can promote sustained well-being and psychological resilience.
Kometer M, Pokorny T, Seifritz E, Volleinweider FX.
Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2015 Aug 1. [Epub ahead of print]
PMID: 26231498
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Below are links to previous posts that address similar concepts:

Psilocybin and spirituality: treatment for suicidal behavior, PTSD and moral injury

Set and Setting, a view from Joseph Campbell

It is a spiritual endeavor.  Neglecting this fact is why treatment of PTSD and other psychosocial disorders are often ineffective.