title: Religiousness, religious coping methods and distress level among psychiatric patients in Malaysia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Patients having psychiatric diagnoses often experience high level of distress. Religiousness is often used by them as part of their coping mechanism and problem-solving strategies.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the level of religious commitment and coping methods in psychiatric patients and its relationship with distress level.
  
  
  METHODS
  Religious commitment and coping patterns were measured with the Duke University Religious Index (DUREL) and Brief RCOPE, respectively. Psychopathology was assessed using the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) and distress level was assessed with the Depressive, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS). Social support and experiences of recent threatening events were measured with the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) and Life Threatening Events (LTE).
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 228 patients were included in this study with a mean age of 40.2 years. The majority were male, Malay, Muslim, single and with psychotic disorder. The subjects had a high level of religious commitment and had used more positive coping methods. Negative religious coping, psychiatric symptoms and diagnosis of anxiety disorder or major depression were significantly associated with high distress level. Higher religious commitment was significantly associated with lower distress (p < .05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Psychiatric patients were religiously committed and used more positive religious coping methods. Practices of negative religious coping, severe psychiatric symptoms and anxiety/depression were associated with higher distress.
authors.affiliation: Kulliyyah of Nursing, International Islamic University Malaysia, Kuantan, Malaysia.
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Nurasikin
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Khatijah
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aini
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ramli
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Aida
authors.forename: N Z
authors.initials: NZ
authors.lastname: Zainal
authors.forename: C G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Ng
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological / Q000502:physiology*; D000328:Adult; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000523:psychology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007514:Islam / Q000523:psychology; D008016:Life Change Events; D008296:Malaysia; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012069:Religion and Psychology; D012944:Social Support; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology*