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Effects of religion on the course of suicidality among geriatric patients with mood disorders

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 May 2022

David H. Rosmarin ,
Steven Pirutinsky ,
Soohyun Park ,
Mia Drury ,
David Harper  and
Brent P. Forester
David H. Rosmarin*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA McLean Hospital, Spirituality & Mental Health Program, Belmont, USA
Steven Pirutinsky
Affiliation:
Department of Social Work, Touro College, New York, USA
Soohyun Park
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA McLean Hospital, Spirituality & Mental Health Program, Belmont, USA McLean Hospital, Geriatric Psychiatry Research Program, Belmont, USA
Mia Drury
Affiliation:
McLean Hospital, Spirituality & Mental Health Program, Belmont, USA McLean Hospital, Geriatric Psychiatry Research Program, Belmont, USA
David Harper
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA McLean Hospital, Geriatric Psychiatry Research Program, Belmont, USA
Brent P. Forester
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA McLean Hospital, Geriatric Psychiatry Research Program, Belmont, USA
*
Author for correspondence: David H. Rosmarin, E-mail: drosmarin@mclean.harvard.edu
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Abstract

Background

A growing volume of research suggests that religion protects against late-life suicide, but it remains unclear whether effects are relevant to clinical samples, which facets of religion are most relevant, and variations over the course of mood disorders (e.g. during periods of euthymia, depression, and/or heightened suicidality).

Method

Eighty adults aged 55–85 years with mood disorders completed assessments of religion (affiliation, service attendance, importance of religion, belief and faith in God), depression, and suicidality over time (M = 7.31 measurements over M = 727 days). We computed metrics to identify mean and maximum levels of depression and suicidality, and the number of episodes of significant depression and suicidality experienced by each participant.

Results

Religious affiliation and importance of religion, but not service attendance, belief, or faith in God, were associated with lower mean and maximum depression. Conversely, all facets of religion predicted significantly lower mean and maximum levels of suicidality (rs ranging from −0.24 to −0.39), and substantially less likelihood of experiencing significant suicidality during the study (ORs ranging from 0.19 to 0.33). Service attendance, belief, and faith in God predicted less suicidality even among individuals who did not affiliate with a religious group.

Conclusions

Religious factors, particularly faith in God, are associated with substantially less suicidality over time among older adults with mood disorders, irrespective of religious affiliation.

Keywords

Depressionolder adultsspiritualitysuicide
Type
Original Article
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 53 , Issue 10 , July 2023 , pp. 4446 - 4453
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Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2022. Published by Cambridge University Press

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