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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2016 Oct;55(5):1495-506.
doi: 10.1007/s10943-015-0113-7.

A Novel Religious/Spiritual Group Psychotherapy Reduces Depressive Symptoms in a Randomized Clinical Trial

Yoichi Chida  1   2 , Stephanie Schrempft  3 , Andrew Steptoe  3
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

A Novel Religious/Spiritual Group Psychotherapy Reduces Depressive Symptoms in a Randomized Clinical Trial

Yoichi Chida et al. J Relig Health. 2016 Oct.

Abstract

This randomized controlled trial aimed to examine the effect of the Happy Science doctrine-based group psychotherapy on depressive symptoms in 118 Japanese mental disorder outpatients. The treatment group (n = 58) took part in five 90-min sessions at one-week intervals, while the control group (n = 60) received standard care including medication. Depressive symptoms were assessed before the intervention, 5 weeks after the intervention, and at 3-month follow-up. Compared to the control group, the treatment group showed a significant reduction in depressive symptoms both at post-intervention and at 3-month follow-up. In conclusion, this group psychotherapy might be of benefit in treating depressive symptoms.

Keywords: Buddhism; Causality; Happy Science; Reincarnation; Spiritual group psychotherapy.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
CONSORT flowchart illustrating the recruitment of patients for the present randomized controlled trial
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Average total CES-D change scores by group at pre-intervention (0 W), post-intervention (5 W), and 3-month follow-up (17 W). Values are mean ± SE; CES-D, center for epidemiologic studies depression scale; change scores were computed using the following formula (CES-D total score at each time point − CES-D total score at pre-intervention); all analyses controlled for illness duration and taking sleep medication; ***p < 0.001 compared with the corresponding value in the control group
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