Religion and spirituality in the context of bipolar disorder: a literature review

Abstract

Religion and spirituality (R/S) may play an important role for individuals with bipolar disorder (BD) by providing a means of coping with, and an explanatory model for, their disorder. We conducted a systematic review of empirical studies that have explored R/S in individuals with BD or samples that explicitly delineate individuals with BD. Only six studies met our inclusion criteria. Findings from these studies suggest that R/S strategies may be important for some people in the management of BD. Religion and spirituality thus become relevant concerns for a therapeutic regime that seeks to develop wellness within a bio-psycho-social model. However, the limited body of research and methodological shortcomings of existing research make it difficult to draw relevant conclusions about how this might be accomplished. The authors propose a need for longitudinal, prospective, mixed methods research in order to inform evidence-based practice.

Keywords:

• bipolar disorder
• spirituality
• religion
• review

Acknowledgements

Erin Michalak is supported by a Michael Smith Scholar Award from the Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research and a New Investigator Award from the Canadian Institutes for Health Research.

Notes

Note

1. In light of the evolving nature of these terms, and the ways they are used in the various disciplinary literature, we have chosen to use both religion and spirituality (R/S) in an attempt to be inclusive of these understandings.