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Journal of General Internal Medicine
Published in: Journal of General Internal Medicine 4/2007

01-04-2007 | Original Article

Spiritual Well-Being and Depression in Patients with Heart Failure

Authors: David B. Bekelman, MD, Sydney M. Dy, MD, Diane M. Becker, ScD, Ilan S. Wittstein, MD, Danetta E. Hendricks, MA, Traci E. Yamashita, MS, Sheldon H. Gottlieb, MD

Published in: Journal of General Internal Medicine | Issue 4/2007

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Abstract

Background

In patients with chronic heart failure, depression is common and associated with poor quality of life, more frequent hospitalizations, and higher mortality. Spiritual well-being is an important, modifiable coping resource in patients with terminal cancer and is associated with less depression, but little is known about the role of spiritual well-being in patients with heart failure.

Objective

To identify the relationship between spiritual well-being and depression in patients with heart failure.

Design

Cross-sectional study.

Participants

Sixty patients aged 60 years or older with New York Heart Association class II–IV heart failure.

Measurements

Spiritual well-being was measured using the total scale and 2 subscales (meaning/peace, faith) of the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy—Spiritual Well-being scale, depression using the Geriatric Depression Scale—Short Form (GDS-SF).

Results

The median age of participants was 75 years. Nineteen participants (32%) had clinically significant depression (GDS-SF > 4). Greater spiritual well-being was strongly inversely correlated with depression (Spearman’s correlation −0.55, 95% confidence interval −0.70 to −0.35). In particular, greater meaning/peace was strongly associated with less depression (r = −.60, P < .0001), while faith was only modestly associated (r = −.38, P < .01). In a regression analysis accounting for gender, income, and other risk factors for depression (social support, physical symptoms, and health status), greater spiritual well-being continued to be significantly associated with less depression (P = .05). Between the 2 spiritual well-being subscales, only meaning/peace contributed significantly to this effect (P = .02) and accounted for 7% of the variance in depression.

Conclusions

Among outpatients with heart failure, greater spiritual well-being, particularly meaning/peace, was strongly associated with less depression. Enhancement of patients’ sense of spiritual well-being might reduce or prevent depression and thus improve quality of life and other outcomes in this population.
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Metadata
Title
Spiritual Well-Being and Depression in Patients with Heart Failure
Authors
David B. Bekelman, MD
Sydney M. Dy, MD
Diane M. Becker, ScD
Ilan S. Wittstein, MD
Danetta E. Hendricks, MA
Traci E. Yamashita, MS
Sheldon H. Gottlieb, MD
Publication date
01-04-2007
Publisher
Springer-Verlag
Published in
Journal of General Internal Medicine / Issue 4/2007
Print ISSN: 0884-8734
Electronic ISSN: 1525-1497
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-006-0044-9

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