Introduction: The present study was conducted to investigate the effectiveness of multidimensional spiritual therapy intervention on hope and happiness in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS).
Methods: This study was a quasi-experimental study with a pre-test-post-test design and a control group. The population included MS patients in Shiraz who were members of the MS Association in 1403, from whom 40 people (19 women and 21 men) were selected by random sampling method and randomly divided into two experimental and control groups (20 people in each group). The experimental group received an intervention on the Jan Bozorghi multidimensional spiritual therapy model (with understanding the concept of monotheism, trust, meaning, hope, and self-regulation) during 12 60-minute sessions, while the control group did not receive any intervention. Data collection tools included the Snyder et al. (1991) Hope Information Questionnaire and the Oxford Happiness Questionnaire (1990). Data were analyzed using multivariate and univariate analysis of covariance.
Results: The results showed that the intervention significantly increased hope (η² = 0.625) and happiness (η² = 0.892) in the experimental group. The findings indicate that multidimensional spiritual therapy, as a perspective based on Islamic principles, can be an intervention for health and improve MS psychiatry.
Discussion and Conclusion: The present researcher provides evidence that the intervention on spiritual therapy, as indigenous and Islamic perspectives, is presented in improving happiness and hope in MS patients. These findings indicate that spiritual integration in medical treatments can improve the quality of life of patients and reduce the psychological burden of the disease. Given the prevalence of MS in Iran, policymakers need to pay attention to this issue in health services. This research can be a basis for national support programs and promotion of community mental health.