Take two psalms and call me in the morning

0 Comments | Insight on the News, Sept 16, 2002 | by John Elvin

It might be a little bit astonishing if a doctor, upon hearing of your aches, pains and woes, prescribed a spiritual solution as medication. But studies continue to point in that direction, particularly in the area of mental health. There may be implications for physical well-being, also. Most recently, a Yale University study published in the August issue of the Journal of Psychiatry in Medicine indicated that elderly people who rely on religious beliefs during times of grief are likely to be healthier than those who do not.

"Despite the expectation that health would decline given the documented health risks associated with bereavement, bereaved individuals who relied more heavily on religion to cope with their loss did not experience a significant increase in health problems," according to researchers Holly Prigerson and Michelle J. Pearce.

The authors aren't out to launch a religious revival among the elderly. At least that conclusion might be drawn from their speculation on why their study came out as it did. They said that perhaps, not having religion to lean on, the others in the study visited the doctor more often "as a type of coping strategy," thus bumping up reports of their health problems.

But the authors were willing to look at the phenomenon in material terms. Noting that some 800,000 individuals are widowed each year, they said that reliance on religion rather than visits to the doctor as a coping mechanism could add up to $180 million in savings to the health-care system. The National Institute of Mental Health funded the study.