Increased self‐transcendence in patients with intractable diseases

• Published in: Psychiatry and clinical neurosciences 2011-12, Vol.65 (7), p.638-647
• Main Authors: Iwamoto, Rie, Yamawaki, Niwako, Sato, Takeshi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adaptation, Psychological; Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Bone Diseases - psychology; Chronic Disease - psychology; Digestive System Diseases - psychology; Female; Hematologic Diseases - psychology; Humans; Immune System Diseases - psychology; intractable disease; Japan; Joint Diseases - psychology; Life Change Events; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Neuromuscular Diseases - psychology; Personal Satisfaction; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; self‐transcendence; sense of subjective well‐being; Spirituality; Vision Disorders - psychology
• ISSN: 1323-1316; 1440-1819
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1440-1819.2011.02256.x

Aims:  Patients with intractable disease require long‐term treatment and experience repeated bouts of progressive symptoms and resolutions, which cause them severe suffering. The aim of this study was to elucidate the concepts of self‐transcendence and subjective well‐being in patients with intractable disease. Methods:  Forty‐four patients with intractable disease (men/women: 22/22) participated. The diseases of the participants were classified into five systems: (i) neural/muscle system; (ii) digestive system; (iii) immunity/blood system; (iv) visual system; and (v) bone/joint system. The controls were 1854 healthy individuals (men/women: 935/869). Participants completed the Self‐Transcendence Scale (STS) and the Japanese version of the World Health Organization‐Subjective Inventory. The Japanese version of the Mini‐International Neuropsychiatric Interview was also used for the intractable disease group. Results:  Analysis of covariance found a significant increase in STS score among the intractable disease group (P