Abstract

Objective: Spirituality and meditation has been used effectively in rehabilitation of the patients with mental illness, particularly in depression and anxiety. Though, rarely it has been used as the core therapy (or with routine medications) in the patients with psychotic symptoms. We studied the effect of spiritual healing in a case diagnosed as schizoaffective disorder, depressive type. Material and Methods: Spiritual healing and Raj yoga meditation were prescribed with the routine medications as the medicines alone were not showing any significant improvement. The major sessions lasted for 15 days and further follow ups continued for every 15 days till two months. Results :A series of scales were administered before intervention and after intervention for different domains that are listed as Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale, Scale for Positive Symptoms, Scale for Negative Symptoms, Global Assessment of Functioning and Social and Occupational functioning. The individual showed significant improvement on depression, anxiety, stress (79.57%), positive symptoms (73.61%), negative symptoms (60.00%) , Overall Functioning (33.33%) social and occupational functioning (33.33%). Discussion: Spiritual healing and Rajyoga Meditation has been seen to be effective in treating the case with psychotic symptoms.

Authors and Affiliations