An observational study in Anxiety Disorder and Mood Disorder, sponsored by University of Saskatchewan. Completed at 1 site in Canada. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 70 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2011-10-05.
Sponsored by University of Saskatchewan · Observational
The purpose of this study is to determine whether or not spiritual and/or religious commitment affects mood variability and thoughts of suicide.
First we hypothesize that among patients with depressive symptoms, those who have higher religious/spiritual (R/S) commitment will have less suicidal ideation and less mood variability. Second, we hypothesize that higher mood variability will be associated with more suicidal ideation. Finally, dependent on the first two hypotheses, we propose that R/S commitment will mediate the relationship between mood variability and suicidal ideation.
The suicide rate has not changed dramatically in the recent past, despite advances in psychiatric and mental health treatment, suicide prevention and awareness programs, and reorganization of health services. Depression and the mood disorders which may affect 15% of the population are the conditions most associated with high suicide rates (in addition to psychotic conditions that are relatively rare). Research findings into specific conditions within the depressive disorders that might predict suicidal tendencies are sparse, except for other common comorbid conditions such as panic and alcohol abuse. Research into risks and protective factors has infrequently included religious and spiritual variables that have been associated with decreased rates of depression, suicide, suicide attempts and suicidal ideation.
An inverse relationship between religion and suicide has been found in regional, national, and cross-national studies. Analyzing data from the 1993 Mortality Followback Survey in the US, frequency of religious activities reduced the odds of dying by suicide even after controlling for the frequency of social contact; in 584 deaths by suicide compared with 4279 natural deaths. A Canadian study of 261 Census divisions found the absence of religious affiliation to be an important predictor of death by suicide.
There are no known studies examining mood variability and religion, or spirituality directly. A number of studies however have examined personality attributes and religiosity. The personality style of neuroticism includes moodiness and negative emotionality with the concept of mood reactivity being germane to its construct. Neuroticism is highly correlated with depression and may be a higher order factor in the "internalizing disorders" which include the depressive and anxiety disorders.
The objective of this study is to answer the question "Does R/S mediate the relationship between mood variability and suicidal ideation?" In an effort to achieve that objective, there are three questions that must be answered in this population which in themselves are significant contributions to the research literature.
We hypothesize that those who endorses higher religious/spiritual commitment as measured by daily spiritual experiences, positive religious coping, and personal devotion, will have less suicidal ideation, and less mood variability. Secondly, we hypothesize that higher mood variability will be associated with more suicidal ideation. Finally, dependent on the first two hypotheses, we propose that R/S commitment will mediate the relationship between mood variability and suicidal ideation.
4,868 studies on the registry are indexed under Anxiety Disorders; 1,390 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 200 is above the median of 150 across 606 observational studies indexed under Anxiety Disorders.
Browse Anxiety Disorders studies →University of Saskatchewan is the lead sponsor of 237 studies on the registry; 33 are open to participants now.
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The study population is psychiatric inpatients and outpatients with depressive symptoms between the ages or 18 and 70. Co-morbid anxiety, bipolar spectrum, and eating disorders will be allowed. Involuntary patients and those with psychosis, organic brain impairment, and current substance dependence will be excluded. We will recruit patients prospectively, as they attend psychiatrists' clinics and are admitted to hospital.
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This study is completed, as verified in Oct 2011. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
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University of Saskatchewan