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Increased self‐transcendence in patients with intractable diseases
Author(s) -
Iwamoto Rie,
Yamawaki Niwako,
Sato Takeshi
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
psychiatry and clinical neurosciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.609
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1440-1819
pISSN - 1323-1316
DOI - 10.1111/j.1440-1819.2011.02256.x
Subject(s) - disease , affect (linguistics) , psychology , clinical psychology , mental health , medicine , psychiatry , communication
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 < 0.001). Multiple regression analysis showed that the positive affect measured by the World Health Organization‐Subjective Inventory showed the greatest effect on the STS score for the intractable disease group (β = 0.539, P < 0.001). Conclusion: As a life‐changing experience, an intractable disease may influence an increase in self‐transcendence. The results also showed that there was a strong correlation between self‐transcendence and respondents' subjective well‐being. Our results suggest that patients with life‐changing intractable disease can have a high level of self‐transcendence, which may lead them to regain mental well‐being, and increase their psychological health even in situations that cause physical and mental suffering.