Journal of Advances in Medical and Biomedical Research
Volume:22 Issue: 90, 2014

Since the effect of self-respect upon the mental hygiene and physical health of man and his social behavior cannot be ignored، it seems necessary to shed light on the standpoint of religion and science in this issue. The importance of this concern is manifested when we choose coexisting relationship exist between both religion and science. In this research، we demonstrate the concomitant relationship between religion and science concerning self-concept and self-respect and their effect on physical and mental health. The word «self-concept» as a social psychological term، contains this kind of evaluation along with a series of one’s beliefs and feelings about himself or others about him، and is equal to the word «Mokhtal» in Quranic terms. In this descriptive study، the data were collected from the documents and books and journals in the libraries. Quranic emphasis on creation of an objective- based universe especially in the case of human beings causes to understand this fact that man should not miss his valuable pearl of existence very heedlessly. In the Social psychology، this kind of attitude toward the existence and man can be as a reason for «self -esteem»، which is considered as the cornerstone for a normal behavior in society. Among the findings of this research is illumination of a mutual relationship existing between science and religion and providing some new evidence for the influence of this relationship on health of human beings.

Mental health and self- esteem are psychological issues that have long been considered by psychologists، physicians and religious scholars and have also been influenced by a set of social and cognitive factors. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of training communication skills adopting a religious approach on self- esteem and mental health of male students. The research method was experimental using pre-test، post-test design with a control group. The instruments included the Cooper Smith Self-esteem Questionnaire (1986) and Goldberg General Health Questionnaire (1988). The population of the research included all high school male students in Zanjan in the school year of 2011-2012. Out of this population، 60 students were randomly selected by multi-stage- cluster sampling method and were then divided into two experimental and control groups. Intervention (communicative skills improving through a religious approach) was carried out on the experimental group for fifteen sessions، each lasting for ninety minutes and once a week. SPSS 14 and Ancova tests were used to analyze the collected data. The results of Ancova showed that there was a significant difference in the means of the experimental and control groups in terms of self-esteem (F=44. 64، P<0. 001) and mental health (F=85، P<0. 001). The communication skills training by using a religious approach was effective in the improvement of self-esteem and mental health of students.

The Holy Quran is a book for guidance of human beings. The Almighty God has clearly stated all the steps and aspects for the guidance majority of which have been appreciated by human beings over time. The Holy Quran has mentioned the philosophy of prohibition of having sex within menstruation time by the word «اذي» only once in Al-Baghareh (Verse; 222). The reasons for this prohibition are due to problems which arise in fetus such as abnormality، leprosy and vitiligo. In this mini review study، data was collected from the documents and books in library and the Internet about the word «اذي». This study analyzed and considered the viewpoints of lexicologists and commentators about this word. After all، a comparative study was carried out to account for the prohibition of having sex during the menstruation period with respect to the Holy Quran، religious narrations، as well as actualization of this knowledge in medicine. Scientific and clinical deductions regarding the physiological status of women in menstruation confirm the Quranic and religious narrations and perspectives about prohibition of sex in this period. Ignorance of this fact can cause infection and disease in male and female genitalia track، added to them are the mental problems which may be encountered by each of the spouse. Medical knowledge confirms the Quranic and religious perspectives concerning prohibition of having sex during the menstruation.

In health psychology، the issue of “normal human being”، which can be taken as an equivalent to healthy human being، is considered a fundamental and ideal paradigm in every educational system. In the Islamic cultural، religious and social system، particular attention has been paid to this، as the main goal of Islamic education is training healthy human beings. The present paper deals with this issue comparatively in Descartes’ philosophy representing the Westerns culture and Allameh Tabatabaei’s philosophy representing Islamic thoughts. In Descartes’ thinking، who is a humanistic and subjective philosopher، a typical or normal human being is a self-based، purely rational being، and reliant on his own technologic power. This is a purely natural human being، separated from his meta-physical roots. The more he is able to master the nature، the more normal and ideal he would be. Descartes’ normal human being is mainly a constructive being who is after fulfilling his independence and does not believe in the superhuman principles and teachings، but in Allameh Tabatabai''s view، based on the Islamic thoughts and culture، the concept of normal human being‘s health is mainly a spiritual issue. Qualitative life، which is a prerequisite to the normal human being’s attainments، rests upon a solid philosophical standpoint، access to genuine identity and the acceptance of religion. A normal or typical human being، in this perspective، is one who has a true vision of his life، his undertaking and responsibility، his relationship with God، the world and the facts of existence and eventually a human being who has a high life satisfaction.

Patients’ hospitalization is always stressful for their family members. Belief in God and religiousness are assumed to have vigorous preventive effect on psychiatric disorders، stress and anxiety. Reliance on God can decrease the concerns resulting from severe diseases. When an individual suffers from a long- lasting and complicated disease and its consequent disabilities، trusts in God، would be helpful to admit disease consequences which subsequently prevents or at least diminishes psychological adverse effects. This descriptive-correlative study analyzed the level of anxiety in 100 family members of hospitalized patients admitted to the intensive cardiac care units. The anxiety levels in patients’ family members were analyzed using HADS (Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale) and Religious Beliefs Measurements Scale. The reliability and validity of the scales had already been confirmed by Aghamohammadi and coworkers. The results were analyzed using statistical procedures of Chi-square and correlation tests and logistic regression. 53. 2% of the individuals were suffering from anxiety and 56. 4% had depression. In persons with no anxiety or depression the relation with strong religious beliefs was significant as shown by Chi-square test (P<0. 05). However، 31. 2% and 33. 2% of the patients’ family members who had depression and anxiety respectively، showed a meaningful relation with average religious beliefs (P<0. 05). Religious beliefs have a positive effect on reducing depression and anxiety. Reinforcement of beliefs can reduce depression side effects such as suicide attempts، addiction، immoral actions، personality disorders and sexual disorders.

The handicapped are grappling with many problems، which could jeopardize their mental as well as physical health. Several studies have demonstrated the correlation between religion and mental health. In the recent decades، religion and psychological studies have increasingly attracted the attention of researchers. This study aimed to examine the relationship between religious beliefs and mental health. Eighty eight members from Zanjan Handicapped Community (year 2011) constituted the sample for this study. The participants took two tests of Allport''s Religious Orientation and General Health Questionnaire (GHQ). These tests have already been translated and standardized for the Iranian society. Using SPSS، the test data were analyzed by descriptive statistics and Pearson''s correlation coefficient. The results showed a statistically reversed correlation between global religious score and third subscale of GHQ (how to cope with common life situations) at significance level of 0. 01 (r= -0. 29 and P= 0. 006) and also between internal religious score and the same subscale at significance level of 0. 05 (r= -0. 224 and P= 0. 036). It seems that the handicapped are not aware of the role of faith in their health; thus، some measures should be taken in this regard to promote their health.

Many contemporary Western scientists are emphasizing that the problem with modern humans is that they are basically in need of faith and spiritual values; because faith in God is associated with a spiritual power that helps humans to endure hardships and in turn diminishes anxiety level. Saying prayers is assumed as a palliative treatment and a stimulus to biological and physiological responses in patients. Therefore، the initial purpose of this study was to explore and explain the role of spiritual beliefs and religious practice in improvement of mental health and decreasing mental disorders. Content analysis and library information search were used to collect the data for this study. In addition، this research was an endeavor to throw light upon، analyze and explain Islamic teachings، concepts and themes as related to mental health and mental disorders. Analytical results of several studies indicate that there is a significant relationship between depression and religious beliefs (P<0. 05). As reported by the previous studies، there is an inverse relationship between religious beliefs and spouse abuse. Our results demonstrate that there is a significant relationship between religious beliefs and mental health and people with well-built faith have more mental peace. Meanwhile، adherence to Islamic practice has a preventive and diminishing role in mental disorders such as anxiety، depression، sexual perversions، suicide and spouse abuse.

The verse of «shifaa» (and We send down، of the Quran، that which is a healing and a mercy to the believers; and the unbelievers it increases not، except in loss Al- Israa: 82) is the leading document for Quranic and medical interdisciplinary researches. Despite its popularity، it has not found its particular grounding amongst us. This research was an endeavor to enlighten the ways in order to improve the quantity and quality of medical references to this verse، to put forward the lexical relationship concerning the elements of the verse، and to bring about a novel method of documentation and referencing as pertinent to this verse. This research yielding a conceptual analysis of the words in Shifaa verse and their coherence and connection based on the morphology of words and implementation of contrastive analysis takes into account the register of the verse and reconsiders its very delicate and subtle aspects. Thereby، this research puts forward some of the infrastructure in the interdisciplinary approach to research in medicine and Quran. In the verse of «Shifaa»، the term “healing” is the opposite for the word loss and signifies richness، profit، and growth which eventually brings about calmness، evolvement، relief and safety. The foregoing results are achieved only by means of adherence to Quran and faithfulness which alternatively remedies all kind of diseases including loss، constraints، pressure، insecurity، restlessness and the like. Faith is the opposite of oppression and based on its lexical root means seeking refuge and safety under the shadow of Quran، and it is the only prerequisite for the Quranic therapy or healing. Oppression in Quranic concepts implies self-sufficiency and suffering، inattention to Quran، seeking help and security from else which consecutively is a path toward loss and damage. Reports of the research in Quran point out to the role and importance of the concept of faith in the Holy Quran and these reports provide reminders about the outcome of inattentiveness to the commands of the Holy Quran. To benefit from the Quranic therapy and Shiffa as mentioned in the Holy Quran، calls upon speculation and deep apprehension of the essence of the Quran along with its distinctive aspects.

Anxiety is a displeasing feeling of fear and worry associated with a psychological and physiological state of somatic، emotional، cognitive، and behavioral complications. Most students experience some degree of anxiety prior to their examinations. Among various non-drug methods، recitation of Quran can be listened to and used as a beneficial method to reduce anxiety level. This study was performed on 62 secondary school students who were randomly assigned into two groups of control (n=31) and treatment (n=31). Data were obtained by a questionnaire composed of demographic data and Sarason Test Anxiety Questionnaire. At the outset of the experiment، pre-exam anxiety levels were measured in both groups. Then، the treatment group listened to the recitation of the Holy Quran as long as 20 minutes while the control group sat for 20 minutes in their place. Anxiety levels were measured again at the end of the experiment. Data were analyzed using paired and independent t-tests. Anxiety scores were compared between the two groups before and after the intervention. The mean anxiety scores in the treatment group before and after the intervention were 17. 52 and 14. 48، respectively. The paired t -test analysis showed a significant difference in the control group before and after the intervention (P<0. 05). The mean anxiety scores in the treatment group before and 20 minutes after the intervention were 17. 39 and 17. 1، respectively. The independent t- test analysis showed no significant difference in the control group before and after the intervention (P> 0. 05). The results indicated that listening to the recitation of the Holy Quran would have beneficial effects on reducing anxiety. Listening to the Holy Quran can be considered as a non-pharmacologic method، safe and a reasonable approach to reduce anxiety before the exam.

Islam has always laid emphasis upon the health of body and soul. There are a lot of instructions and lessons presented in Quran about healthy nutrition which is a very important factor for attaining the body and soul health. “We send down for believers from Quran whatever which is mercy and healthy”. In this article، we considered some of these Quran’s guidelines. This review study was carried out to collect healthy nutrition instructions out of verses of the Holy Quran، credible Hadiths (sayings) of Imams، Quran interpretations، and books of Hadiths enlightenment، and by getting help from teachings of scholars and professionals in Islamic civilization. From the viewpoint of Quran، nutritional health is in a relationship with spiritual issues and monotheistic worldview. Some of the Quranic recommendations about nutrition hygiene and health are: advice on using licit and pure foods and drinks and not obeying satanic desires: “Oh، People، eat licit and pure from whatever which is on the earth and do not follow the devil path” to keep the illegal edibles away: “dead’s meat، blood، pig’s meat and whatever which is not slaughtered by the name of the God، all are illegal on you”; paying attention to nutrition type and thinking about its qualitative structure: “human should be able to have full consideration and deliberation on his/her food” along with its quantitative structure: “eat and drink but do not lavish”; fasting and its importance in nutritional hygiene: “it is very good for you to fast”; exercising and its relationship with healthy nutrition: “He made the earth obedient and flat for you، so move in its ups and downs and use its aliments” and other examples. The nutritional hygiene has a high standing point in the Holy Quran so that the Prophet and Imams (May peace be upon them) and other Islamic sages، who were affected by Islamic teachings about hygiene in general and nutritional hygiene in particular، have expressed some worthy recommendations. A valuable perspective concerning nutritional hygiene in Quran is that we should benefit from licit and pure aliments and avoid the illicit ones. Through continuing this perspective we can step on and be consistent in monolithic path.

The holy Quran، Mohammad''s miracle، is a treasure that was descended on him with the advent of Islam out of which novel and wonderful knowledge and science have been discovered over time. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of voice of the Holy Quran on cortisol، ACTH and psychological indices during one maximal exercise training in young female athletes. In this study، twenty four volunteer students were divided into two groups (n=12) while one group (experimental) heard the recitation of the Holy Quran، the second group (control) did not. The mean age of the subjects was 21. 6، their mean height 163. 8 cm and their mean weight was 57. 08 kg. Their exercise included running on a treadmill set while wearing a headset. Their blood samples were collected for analysis of ACTH and cortisol 5 min before and after the training. The amount of perceived pressure was recorded every three minutes using Burg scale. Anxiety rates were calculated based on Beack Anxiety Inventory (BAI) before and after the test. The time of exhaustion was also recorded at the end of the test. The results showed that ACTH level in the control and experimental groups were 23. 8 pg/ml and 29. 2 pg/ml، respectively. However، after the test، the rate changed significantly (p<0. 05) in control and test groups to 24. 9 and 20. 3 pg/ml، respectively. The cortisol concentration in the control and experimental groups before the test was 15. 5 and 14. 7 nmol، respectively. The cortisol reduced in the control and test groups to 17. 3 nmol and 13. 4 nmol، respectively. The time of exhaustion in the control and experiment groups increased to 593. 92 and 564. 25 sec.، respectively. The rating of perceived pressure in the experiment and control groups during our 4-step exercises was 12. 12 and 11. 97، respectively. In conclusion، hearing the voice of the Holly Quran can reduce ACTH and cortisol levels caused by anxiety and may also reduce the harmful effects of anxiety.

One of the challenging issues over the ages has been spiritual and mental dilemmas leading to numerous miseries and mortifications in human societies. From the perspective of Islam، one of the maladies of human in addition to physical maladies is spiritual one affecting human beings with a kind of suspect and anxiety which is manifested in terms of suspicion and fragile faith in God and leads to display of manners well-matched with ungodly and wicked habits which، in turn، induces acts of unbelievers. In contrast، Quran considers a healthy person as one who does not go astray and who has spiritually achieved piety of soul and spirit. The Holy Quran entitles a person of healthy soul (Salim o-nnafs) if he is not a slave of inordinate desires. To meet this goal، the present research embarked on evaluation of Shia Muslims interpretations of malady of soul focusing on Tafsir- al Mizan (Allameh Tabatabaii) with specific reliance on the commentaries and perspectives of deceased Allameh Hosseini Tehrani. To fulfill the objectives of this study this descriptive/ analytical and library based research was applied. A striking issue from the perspective of Tafsir-al Mizan is the similarity of soul disease with physical diseases which tend to aggravate by time and if not treated، it will diverge into a chronic disease and will subsequently end in death. It is worth mentioning that aggravation of heart disease stems from negligence of a patient concerning the detrimental activities worsening severity of disease of the heart (exactly similar to physical diseases). In Quranic perspective، if an individual suffers from heart disease and if he desires to be treated for his illness، this needs to repent of his sins towards Glorified God. Quran mentions that one of the distinct futures of repentance is faith in God، proper and virtuous behavior and thoughts. Furthermore، in the same perspective، those who suffer from soul disease are not scared of acquiring worldly assets at the price of being deprived of religion and also such people assign a high priority to mortal worldly positions over piousness.