Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2025

Abstract

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has been identified as a significant concern worldwide, but very few spiritually oriented programs to address trauma have been tested in low to middle-income countries. This study evaluated the effectiveness of a faith-based, community-centered program in reducing PTSD symptoms and enhancing spiritual well-being. The program is designed for the participants’ well-being, while also equipping them to help their community in a form of task sharing. A total of 98 Nigerians participated in six five-day workshops, half in the capital city and half in areas farther north, where conflict was more common. The Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist and the Spiritual Assessment Inventory, with subscales of Awareness of God, Disappointment with God, Realistic Acceptance, and Instability, were used as measures pre and post intervention, then nine-months later for a follow-up assessment. Immediate results showed significant reductions of PTSD symptoms, with a moderate effect on the whole group and a large effect on those who reached the cut-off for PTSD prior to the workshop. Improvement in relationship with God was also evident. A small proportion of the sample completed the nine-month follow-up, and demonstrated maintained improvement in PTSD symptoms, except for those who had experienced additional distressing events. While overall spiritual well-being remained stable, individuals experiencing distressing events reported increased disappointment with God. Findings demonstrated the efficacy of spiritually oriented interventions in bridging the treatment gap, using models of sustainability and task-sharing in low-income settings.

Comments

Originally published in Hervey, E. G. (2025). The effects of a spiritually integrated trauma healing program on PTSD symptoms and spiritual well-being in Nigeria. Spirituality in Clinical Practice, 12(3), 385–398. https://doi.org/10.1037/scp0000386

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