The effectiveness of Islamic-based interventions for anxiety disorder

The gap

Evidence profile

Sourced from the recommendations and future work and limitations and future-work section and stated research gap of the source papers, classified as general, spanning 4 journals. Those papers have been cited 9 times in total.

Supporting evidence — 5 representative gaps

• Exploring the Contributions of Islamic Beliefs and Practices to the Physical and Mental Health of Older People: A Systematic Literature Review (2026) · Ageing International · cited 1× · doi

  The majority of studies reported positive impacts of Islamic interventions in Muslim- majority settings, suggesting the potential for their broader application in other set- tings where religion is central to daily life. Nevertheless, future researchers should compare the involvement of Islamic principles in care for older people across differ- ent Muslim-majority countries and Muslim-minority communities worldwide. This can highlight variations and commonalities in practices and help identify culturally relevant care strategies. These results also illustrate how a healthcare provider should be considerate of the spiritual dimensions of care when addressing chronic conditions like hypertension. For Muslim older people, the integration of religious/Islamic practices into health treatment might increase adherence to health recommendations and improve the over- all outcomes. However, since the findings came primarily from quasi-experimental studies, further research is needed to explore these topics more comprehensively and provide stronger evidence. The existing research largely focuses on the perspectives of older people, with limited exploration of the views of healthcare providers (such as nurses) on incorporating spiritual dimensions of care when managing chronic con- ditions. Expanding the research to include diverse perspectives, especially those of healthcare providers from various cultural backgrounds, could significantly enhance the understanding of spiritual care when treating chronic conditions. Further research is also needed on other chronic conditions common in older people, such as arthri- tis, gout, osteoporosis, and kidney disease, with a focus on Islamic involvement or Islamic-based interventions. An insufficient number of robust studies have been conducted on the specific aspect of how Islamic tenets and practices affect older people’s health and well-being, espe- cially in caregiving settings. A critical aspect that remains under-researched is the unique experiences of those responsible for caring for older people while adhering to Islamic principles. These caregivers often face complex challenges, such as bal- ancing religious obligations, managing caregiving responsibilities, and coping with the emotional and physical burdens of their role. The stress they experience might be intensified by the demands of observing religious practices, such as maintaining the dignity of older people according to Islamic teachings, ensuring appropriate gen- der dynamics in caregiving, as well as following dietary and medical practices pre- scribed by Islam. Further exploration of these issues is essential to develop culturally sensitive support systems and strategies. Therefore, future research should provide insights into how Islamic principles shape caregiving experiences, the ultimate goal being to improve caregiver well-being and the overall quality of care for older people in Muslim communities. Since this systematic literature review only included studies published in English, it may have omitted relevant studies on Islamic contributions to the health of older people, particularly those in unpublished works or reports in other languages. Ageing International (2026) 51:31 3Page 13 of 17 3 Consequently, the findings of this review might not fully capture the complete range of available evidence. Future systematic literature reviews should aim to include studies published in other languages, particularly Arabic and those commonly used in regions with significant Islamic populations, to capture a broader spectrum of evidence. Although the search was expanded to include studies published between 2010 and 2024 to capture the perspectives of Islam’s contributions to the physical and mental health of older people, relevant studies published before 2010 may have been unintentionally excluded. This limitation may result in an incomplete representation of foundational or earlier scholarly work on the research area. Future studies may benefit from a broader search strategy to ensure a more comprehensive understanding.

  generalrecommendations
  Keywords: islamic older people care muslim practices health future chronic caregiving published majority broader principles relevant
• Maternal Healthcare Provider Perspectives on Spiritual Care and the Challenges and Opportunities for Provider Spiritual Well-Being in the United States (2026) · Journal of Religion and Health · doi

  Although provider spiritual well-being is an essential element for spiritual care of patients, it is not necessary prior to engaging with spiritual care training programs. In fact, studies have shown that healthcare professionals in spiritual care training programs 1908 Journal of Religion and Health (2026) 65:1887–1916 reported benefits to their own sense of spirituality (Jones et al., 2021; Paal et al., 2015). Provider spiritual health, spiritual well-being, and spiritual integrity all benefited by participation in spiritual care training. Providers reported that increased awareness of spiritual care strategies allowed them to apply these strategies to their own lives and emphasize spiritual growth to a greater extent (Jones et al., 2021). While spiritual care training programs can support spiritual well-being of providers, it is not clear that the benefits from these programs alone are sustainable. It is recommended that such train- ing occurs in conjunction with addressing the barriers to provider spiritual well-being described in this paper (Theme 10. Organizational-level barriers), and not as a substi- tute for transforming the relevant contextual and organizational factors. By delving into the layered meanings of spirituality from the perspective of maternal healthcare professionals, the findings of this study are applicable to developing inter- ventions to improve the spiritual well-being of providers and spiritual care of patients. Implications for practice include identifying strategies that may be effective in promot- ing acceptability of spiritual care interventions among providers, such as focusing on the benefits to maternal health outcomes, opportunities to improve communication and trust in the patient–provider relationship, and the intersection with provider spir- itual well-being. Organizational and provider concerns related to time available with patients, fear of offending patients or overstepping professional bounds, and overcom- ing a skepticism bordering on cynicism of the genuineness of organizational efforts to support provider well-being must all be tactfully addressed in developing training materials. Implementing provider peer groups to discuss the spiritual aspect of maternal healthcare for providers and patients is recommended as a component for spiritual care training. This was a suggestion that came directly from a participant and is a way of leveraging one of the facilitators identified (Theme 7a. Individual-level facilitators: skills and behaviors in the clinic) through the opportunity for peer-to-peer discussion and mentoring. Bringing providers together can also help to address the need for cul- tural growth at the organizational level by assuaging fears of appearing unprofessional to colleagues. Discussion groups may also contribute to provider spiritual well-being by combatting feelings of isolation identified in this study. Further steps to promote provider spiritual well-being include offering additional forms of spiritual support, such as evidence-based programs like the MRP. The find- ings of this study are helpful to understand the needs and priorities of healthcare pro- fessionals with respect to how best to implement programs like the MRP. For example, a focus on skill development and creating an organizational culture that values holistic well-being, two features of the MRP, aligns with facilitating factors at the individual and organizational levels that were identified in the findings. This alignment indicates a potential fit of the MRP for the organizations represented by the maternal healthcare providers interviewed in this study.

  generalfuture work
  Keywords: spiritual provider well care providers organizational training programs patients healthcare maternal health benefits strategies support
• Religiosity and Well-Being Among Hindu Elderly: A Comparative Study of Institutional and Home-Based Living in Lucknow (2026) · Current Research Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities · doi

  While this study provides valuable insights, it is not without limitations. The cross-sectional design limits the ability to infer causality, and the relatively small sample size may not fully capture the diversity of experiences among Hindu elderly in Lucknow. Future research should adopt longitudinal designs to explore the long-term impact of living arrangements on religiosity and well-being. Such findings drive home the importance of culturally MISHRA, Current Research Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vol. 08(2) 178-196 (2025)sensitive frameworks that go beyond Western models to capture indigenous expressions of religiosity (Ingersoll-Dayton, 2011; Fang et al., 2016). Hence, expanding the study to include diverse religious and cultural groups would enhance the generalizability of the findings. Finally, qualitative research methods, such as in-depth interviews and focus groups, could provide a richer understanding of the lived experiences of elderly individuals and their spiritual journeys.

  generallimitationsevidence 5/5
  Keywords: capture experiences elderly religiosity groups provides valuable insights without limitations cross sectional design limits ability
• Anxiety Disorder Menurut Ilmu Medis Serta Penanganannya dalam Perspektif Islam (2026) · Jurnal Ilmu Pendidikan dan Sains Islam Interdisipliner · doi

  Future studies can explore the effectiveness of Islamic-based interventions for anxiety disorder. Research can investigate the role of spiritual aspects in managing anxiety disorder. Studies can examine the relationship between Islamic principles and anxiety disorder in different cultural contexts.

  generalfuture-work sectionevidence 5/5
  Keywords: future studies explore effectiveness islamic-based interventions anxiety disorder
• The Influence of Spirituality in the Care of Patients with Advanced Chronic Illnesses and at the End of Life: An Integrative Review (2026) · Journal of Religion and Health · cited 8× · doi

  Limited understanding of how spiritual care influences emotional, existential, and quality of life outcomes. Heterogeneity in spirituality definitions and limited professional training hinder consistent implementation. Weak institutional support for spiritual care integration into clinical practice.

  generalstated research gapevidence 5/5
  Keywords: limited understanding spiritual care influences emotional existential quality

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