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Objectives: The association between religiosity and secular mental health utilization is unclear. Evidence suggests that religious and spiritual leaders (R/S leaders) may be more trusted than secular mental health therapists (SMHTs) and are often the first point of contact for individuals with mental health problems who identify as religious. Methods: Generalized equation estimate (GEE) analyses were used to examine the association between religiosity and mental health seeking behaviours in 2,107 participants using t Midlife in the United States Study (MIDUS) data collected between 1995 and 2014. Results: The final model indicated that after adjusting for covariates, higher levels of baseline religious identification and baseline spirituality (assessed in 1995) predicted an increase in visits to R/S leaders from 1995 to 2014 by a factor of 1.08 (95% CI=1.01–1.16) and 1.89 (95% CI=1.56–2.28), respectively. Higher levels of baseline religious identification reduced SMHTs visits by a factor of 0.94 (95% CI=0.90–0.98), whereas higher levels of baseline spirituality increased SMHTs visits by a factor of 1.13 (95% CI=1.00–1.27) during the same timeframe. Conclusion: Higher levels of spirituality and religious identification increased the frequency over time of seeking mental health support from R/S leaders relative to SMHTs. Individuals with mental illness may seek support from religious resources, mental health professionals, or both, underscoring the importance of collaboration between R/S leaders and SMHTs. Mental health training for R/S leaders and collaboration with SMHTs may help alleviate mental health burden, especially among those who highly value their religious and spiritual beliefs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Religiosity/spirituality confer protective mental health benefits in adolescents, although the relationship between the two in transgender youths is unclear. This systematic review of the literature sought to clarify this relationship. We searched five databases for quantitative and qualitative studies exploring the relationship between religiosity/spirituality and mental health in transgender youths. Eighteen articles met criteria. Six showed a negative relationship between religion/spirituality and mental health, seven showed a mixed relationship, two showed a positive relationship, and three showed a neutral relationship. Only four studies exclusively evaluated transgender youths' experiences of religiosity/spirituality and mental health. The 14 other studies more broadly evaluated the experiences of LGBTQ youths, where participation among transgendered adolescents was low. Twelve studies were cross-sectional cohort studies, while six were qualitative studies. The relationship between religiosity/spirituality and mental health in adolescents identifying as transgender is complex. Quantitative studies were mixed regarding the association between religion/spirituality and mental health. Qualitative studies showed a more nuanced relationship between the two in which religiously motivated stigma from parents or communities resulted in worsened mental health outcomes, while intrinsic religiosity appeared to correspond to improved psychological well-being. Implications of these findings for mental health providers and religious leaders are described. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Predicting memory problems in older depressed patients receiving electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is difficult. In this study, hippocampal volume and acute memory outcomes were examined in 15 patients following an [...]