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Faith under the microscope.

See related article, pages 993–997. 

Stroke affects many dimensions of human behavior and performance, often with profound and long-lasting consequences. Recent years have seen dramatic progress in the measurement and alleviation of the neurological, physical, cognitive and psychological consequences of stroke. In contrast, the adjustments that many patients have to make to a restricted life and their determinants remain poorly understood, despite their importance in the long-term well-being and quality of life of stroke survivors.

This unique and well-designed study investigates the role of religious beliefs in enhancing the ability to cope and reducing emotional distress in stroke survivors.1 The strength of this study is that it includes acute stroke patients in whom stroke characteristics, level of impairments, disability and emotional state were clearly defined. Religious beliefs and spirituality were measured using a validated instrument. Outcome measures were predefined and data were subjected to rigorous statistical evaluation in models with construct and criterion validity, lending further objectivity and credence to the results. The central message of the study is that people with religious beliefs experience the same amount of stress as those people who do …