Efficacy of Spiritual Bibliotherapy in the management of common mental disorder

Abstract

Background: Religious and spiritual factors are increasingly being examined in psychiatric research. Despite the growing research evidence that supports correlation between spirituality, stress and well-being, paucity of research existed in India regarding actual intervention trials involving spiritual bibliotherapy. Aims :This study was conducted to assess the impact of spiritual bibliotherapy on patients suffering from Common Mental Disorders in order to assess its effectiveness on psychological well being and stress reduction. Methodology: The study was experimental research having 24 patients suffering from common mental disorders. The Purposive Sampling Technique was used. PGI General Well-being Measure, Psychological Well-being Scale and Perceived Stress Scale were applied on the subject those who fulfill inclusionexclusion criteria. Result: Findings indicated that patients on spiritual bibliotherapy (SBT) had higher scores on General Well-being (GWB) and PWB; however, patients on SBT and BT both reported similar improvement on PSS. These results highlight that the conceptual approaches where spiritualism is enhanced in one's life via reading of religious texts can promote mental well being. Conclusion: The study pointed towards the psychological health benefits of spiritual bibliotherapy, in practice, to promote psychological well being and achieve stress reduction