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Religiosity and remission of depression in medically ill older patients

Koenig, Harold G., George, Linda K., Peterson, Bercedis L.·1998·American Journal of Psychiatry
DOI 10.1176/ajp.155.4.536
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Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The effects of religious belief and activity on remission of depression were examined in medically ill hospitalized older patients. METHOD: Consecutive patients aged 60 years or over who had been admitted to medical inpatient services at a university medical center were screened for depressive symptoms. Of 111 patients scoring 16 or higher on the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, 94 were diagnosed with depressive disorder (DSM-III major depression or subsyndromal depression) by a psychiatrist using a structured psychiatric interview. After hospital discharge, depressed patients were followed up by telephone at 12-week intervals four times. At each follow-up contact, criterion symptoms were reassessed, and changes in each symptom over the interval since last contact were determined. The median follow-up time for 87 depressed patients was 47 weeks. Religious variables were examined as predictors of time to remission by means of a multivariate Cox model, with controls for demographic, physical health, psychosocial, and treatment factors. RESULTS: During the follow-up period, 47 patients (54.0%) had remissions; the median time to remission was 30 weeks. Intrinsic religiosity was significantly and independently related to time to remission, but church attendance and private religious activities were not. Depressed patients with higher intrinsic religiosity scores had more rapid remissions than patients with lower scores. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, greater intrinsic religiosity independently predicted shorter time to remission. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report in which religiosity has been examined as a predictor of outcome of depressive disorder.

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  • Three of three studies reported a significant positive relationship between R/S and kindness/compassion.

    “and with regard to kindness/compassion, three of three studies reported significant positive relationship with R/S [123].”

    From Religion, Spirituality, and Health: The Research and Clinical Implications (2012) · cites this paper as [123]

  • Religious beliefs (intrinsic religiosity) did predict shorter time to remission of depression in medically ill older persons.

    “Another study that focused on medically ill older persons found that church attendance and private religious activities did not predict shorter time to remission of depression, but religious beliefs (intrinsic religiosity) did [55].”

    From A systematic review of social factors and suicidal behavior in older adulthood (2012) · cites this paper as [55]

  • Church attendance and private religious activities did not predict shorter time to remission of depression in medically ill older persons.

    “Another study that focused on medically ill older persons found that church attendance and private religious activities did not predict shorter time to remission of depression, but religious beliefs (intrinsic religiosity) did [55].”

    From A systematic review of social factors and suicidal behavior in older adulthood (2012) · cites this paper as [55]

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Authors
Koenig, H. G., George, L. K., & Peterson, B. L.
Affiliations
Duke Medical Center (US)
ORCID
Venue
American Journal of Psychiatry
Publisher
American Psychiatric Association Publishing
Published
1998-04-01
Volume
155
Issue
4
Pages
536-542
ISSN
  • 0002-953X (ISSN-L)
  • 1535-7228
DOI
10.1176/ajp.155.4.536
OpenAlex
W2145891896
Cited by
658
References
49
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2025: 11 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 48 · 2022: 19 · 2021: 15 · 2020: 14 · 2019: 18 · 2018: 19 · 2017: 23 · 2016: 21 · 2015: 17 · 2014: 27 · 2013: 29 · 2012: 35
FWCI
23.33
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • American Journal of Psychiatry (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institutes of Health (5k07mh001138-02)
  • National Institute on Aging (AG-11268, P60AG011268)
  • National Institute of Mental Health (MH 40159, MH 01138)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Health › Religion, Spirituality, and Psychology
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Mental Health Treatment and Access
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Religion and Society Interactions
Keywords
religiosity, intrinsic religiosity, depression remission, depressive disorders, older adults, medical patients, hospitalized patients, church attendance, religious activities, predictors of remission, time to remission
MeSH terms
Age Factors, Aged, Antidepressive Agents, Combined Modality Therapy, Depressive Disorder, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Health Status, Hospitalization, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Psychotherapy, Religion, Religion and Psychology, Geriatric Assessment, Comorbidity, Multivariate Analysis, Proportional Hazards Models, Survival Analysis, Outcome Assessment, Health Care

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