title: Empirically supported religious and spiritual therapies.
abstract: This article evaluated the efficacy status of religious and spiritual (R/S) therapies for mental health problems, including treatments for depression, anxiety, unforgiveness, eating disorders, schizophrenia, alcoholism, anger, and marital issues. Religions represented included Christianity, Islam, Taoism, and Buddhism. Some studies incorporated a generic spirituality. Several R/S therapies were found to be helpful for clients, supporting the further use and research on these therapies. There was limited evidence that R/S therapies outperformed established secular therapies, thus the decision to use an R/S therapy may be an issue of client preference and therapist comfort.
authors.affiliation: Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA.
authors.forename: Joshua N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Hook
authors.forename: Everett L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Worthington
authors.forename: Don E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Jennings
authors.forename: Aubrey L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Gartner
authors.forename: Jan P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Hook
mesh_terms: D055317:Evidence-Based Practice; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D012067:Religion; D029181:Spirituality