Dr. Andrew Newberg Talks to WBUR About Effects of Spirituality on the Brain
New research published in the Journal of Clinical Psychology finds that a belief in God may lead to less worry and anxiety.
In a WBUR interview, Andrew Newberg, MD, director of research at the Myrna Brind Center of Integrative Medicine, talks with the lead author of the study about how spirituality affects the brain and how mental health professionals can take a patient's spiritual background into consideration.
Dr. Newberg says, "We do know that when people are actively thinking about god in a very positive, benevolent way it activates the emotional areas of the brain, the areas of the brain that help regulate our stress response and our feelings of anxiety and depression."
Listen to the "Does a Belief in God Make You Worry Less" segment.
Publication: WBUR Boston
Published: 8/24/2011