Objective: The objective of the present study is to assess the impact of Parkinson’s disease on faith and spirituality. 

Background:

There are some controversies on the effect of Parkinson’s disease on faith and spirituality. Active problem-oriented coping, distraction, religious relief and quest for sense were significantly important coping styles for Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients. A limited literature suggests that people with PD have reduced religious beliefs, practices and experiences, compared to normal healthy controls. We questioned the rationale behind these suggestions because the results may be confounded by reduced mobility and social isolation associated with Parkinson’s disease. 

Methods:

We recruited age and sex matched 50 Parkinson’s patients and 50 controls with rheumatic disease from movement disorder and rheumatology clinics of Black Lion Hospital, respectively. Each subject was examined and assessed on Sheehan Disability Scale (SDS) and spirituality measured by the Brief Multidimensional Measure of Religiousness/Spirituality (BMMRS).

Results: In the present study PD patients maintain their Faith in spite of the disease severity. Compared to controls yet their religiosity scores were undiminished even though their SDS scores were high. Spiritual experiences and involvement in a religious community were maintained despite decreasing mobility. 

Conclusions: We questioned the theory which suggests faith is reduced by degeneration of basal ganglia pathways. We recommend a large scale multicentre study. 

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MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/the-impact-of-parkinsons-disease-on-faith-and-spirituality/