Spirituality and Religiosity in Rheumatic Diseases: A Systematic Review

Area of Science:

• Rheumatology
• Psychology
• Sociology of Religion

Background:

• Religiosity and spirituality (R/S) influence chronic disease management.
• Limited research exists on R/S impact in autoimmune/non-autoimmune rheumatic diseases.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review the literature on the impact of R/S on the health of patients with rheumatic diseases.
• To synthesize findings on psychological and physical impacts of R/S in both autoimmune and non-autoimmune rheumatic disease populations.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature review following the PRISMA protocol.
• Searched VHL, PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Scopus, and PsychInfo (1912-2024).
• Included 17 studies out of 1614 identified articles; 76.5% rated as "good" quality.

Main Results:

• R/S demonstrates positive impacts on quality of life, reducing pain, stress, and improving mood, particularly in non-autoimmune rheumatic diseases.
• Evidence for R/S impact on non-psychological aspects is uncertain.
• Only two studies focused on autoimmune rheumatic diseases (rheumatoid arthritis, idiopathic inflammatory myopathies).

Conclusions:

• R/S positively influences psychological well-being and quality of life in rheumatic disease patients, with stronger evidence for non-autoimmune conditions.
• Need for longitudinal studies with larger samples, standardized R/S measures, and consideration of religious diversity.
• Further research is crucial to understand R/S effects in autoimmune rheumatic diseases.