BACKGROUND:Depression is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in coronary heart disease. Numerous conventional and complementary therapies may address depression. Few involving spirituality have been tested. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to compare the effects of a nondenominational spiritual retreat, Medicine for the Earth (MFTE), on depression and other measures of well-being six- to 18-months post acute coronary syndrome (ACS). DESIGN/ SETTING: A randomized controlled pilot study of MFTE, Lifestyle Change Program (LCP), or usual cardiac care (control) was conducted in Southeastern Michigan. PARTICIPANTS: ACS patients were recruited via local and national advertising (n = 58 enrolled, 41 completed). INTERVENTIONS: The four-day MFTE intervention included guided imagery, meditation, drumming, journal writing, and nature-based activities. The four-day LCP included nutrition education, exercise, and stress management. Both retreat groups received follow-up phone coaching biweekly for three months. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Validated self-report scales of depression, spiritual well-being, perceived stress, and hope were collected at baseline, immediately post-retreat, and at three and six months. RESULTS:Depression was not significantly different among groups (P = .21). However, the MFTE group had the highest depression scores at baseline and had significantly lower scores at all postintervention time points (P ≤ .002). Hope significantly improved among MFTE participants, an effect that persisted at three- and six-month follow-up (P = .014). Although several measures showed improvement in all groups by six months, the MFTE group had immediate improvement post-retreat, which was maintained. CONCLUSIONS: This pilot study shows that a nondenominational spiritual retreat, MFTE, can be used to increase hope while reducing depression in patients with ACS.
RCT Entities:
BACKGROUND:Depression is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in coronary heart disease. Numerous conventional and complementary therapies may address depression. Few involving spirituality have been tested. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to compare the effects of a nondenominational spiritual retreat, Medicine for the Earth (MFTE), on depression and other measures of well-being six- to 18-months post acute coronary syndrome (ACS). DESIGN/ SETTING: A randomized controlled pilot study of MFTE, Lifestyle Change Program (LCP), or usual cardiac care (control) was conducted in Southeastern Michigan. PARTICIPANTS: ACS patients were recruited via local and national advertising (n = 58 enrolled, 41 completed). INTERVENTIONS: The four-day MFTE intervention included guided imagery, meditation, drumming, journal writing, and nature-based activities. The four-day LCP included nutrition education, exercise, and stress management. Both retreat groups received follow-up phone coaching biweekly for three months. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Validated self-report scales of depression, spiritual well-being, perceived stress, and hope were collected at baseline, immediately post-retreat, and at three and six months. RESULTS:Depression was not significantly different among groups (P = .21). However, the MFTE group had the highest depression scores at baseline and had significantly lower scores at all postintervention time points (P ≤ .002). Hope significantly improved among MFTE participants, an effect that persisted at three- and six-month follow-up (P = .014). Although several measures showed improvement in all groups by six months, the MFTE group had immediate improvement post-retreat, which was maintained. CONCLUSIONS: This pilot study shows that a nondenominational spiritual retreat, MFTE, can be used to increase hope while reducing depression in patients with ACS.
Authors: Elena Salmoirago-Blotcher; Sybil Crawford; Chau Tran; Robert Goldberg; Lawrence Rosenthal; Ira Ockene Journal: J Evid Based Complementary Altern Med Date: 2012-05-25
Authors: Paul J Mills; Kathleen Wilson; Navaid Iqbal; Fatima Iqbal; Milagros Alvarez; Meredith A Pung; Katherine Wachmann; Thomas Rutledge; Jeanne Maglione; Sid Zisook; Joel E Dimsdale; Ottar Lunde; Barry H Greenberg; Alan Maisel; Ajit Raisinghani; Loki Natarajan; Shamini Jain; David J Hufford; Laura Redwine Journal: J Behav Med Date: 2014-12-23
Authors: Paul J Mills; Laura Redwine; Kathleen Wilson; Meredith A Pung; Kelly Chinh; Barry H Greenberg; Ottar Lunde; Alan Maisel; Ajit Raisinghani; Alex Wood; Deepak Chopra Journal: Spiritual Clin Pract (Wash D C ) Date: 2015-03
Authors: Stephanie A Hooker; Kaile Ross; Kevin S Masters; Crystal L Park; Amy E Hale; Larry A Allen; David B Bekelman Journal: J Cardiovasc Nurs Date: 2017 May/Jun Impact factor: 2.083