REVIEW The Spiritism as therapy in the health care in the epilepsy O Espiritismo como terapia no cuidado em saúde na epilepsia Espiritismo como terapia en el cuidado de la salud en la epilepsia Rodrigo Luiz VanciniI, Claudio Andre Barbosa de LiraII, Cássia Regina Vancini-CampanharoIII, Dulce Aparecida BarbosaIII, Ricardo Mario AridaIV I Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Center of Physical Education and Sports. Vitória, Espírito Santo, Brazil. II Universidade Federal de Goiás, Dance and Physical Education College, Sector of Human and Exercise Physiology. Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil. III Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Paulista School of Nursing, Department of Nursing. São Paulo, Brazil. IV Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Department of Physiology. São Paulo, Brazil. How to cite this article: Vancini RL, Lira CAB, Vancini-Campanharo CR, Barbosa DA, Arida RM. The Spiritism as therapy in the health care in the epilepsy. Rev Bras Enferm [Internet]. 2016;69(4):756-62. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/0034-7167.2016690425i Submission: 08-26-2015 Approval: 03-29-2016 ABSTRACT Objective: to present a brief history of Spiritism, the vision of epilepsy by Spiritism, and the potential of spirituality and religiosity care as complementary and coadjutants treatments in epilepsy. Method: this is a brief review about the impact of faith, spirituality, and religiosity, particularly the Spiritism philosophy as complementary treatment to neurological disorders (particularly focusing on epilepsy) and mental health. We conduct a review of published articles (about religion/spirituality and epilepsy) in the Pubmed and SciELO databases. Conclusion: the exercise of spirituality and religiosity can be a positive coping strategy to support the traditional therapy of patients with epilepsy and other neurological disorders. However, it is necessary to demystify myths and beliefs about the epilepsy and improve knowledge about this important health dimension among professionals, patients, and caregivers to explore their full treatment and supportive potential. Descriptors: Complementary Medicine; Epilepsy; Religiosity; Spirituality; Spiritual Care. RESUMO Objetivo: apresentar uma breve história do Espiritismo, a visão da epilepsia pelo Espiritismo e o potencial dos cuidados de espiritualidade e religiosidade como tratamentos complementares e coadjuvantes na epilepsia. Método: trata-se de uma breve revisão sobre o impacto da fé, da espiritualidade, da religiosidade, particularmente da fi losofi a espírita, como tratamento complementar dos distúrbios neurológicos (particularmente com foco na epilepsia) e da saúde mental. Para isso, fi zemos uma revisão, sobre religiosidade/espiritualidade e epilepsia, na base de dados do Pubmed e SciELO. Conclusão: o exercício da espiritualidade e da religiosidade pode ser uma estratégia de enfrentamento positiva para apoiar a terapia tradicional no tratamento de pacientes com epilepsia. No entanto, é preciso desmistifi car mitos e crenças sobre a epilepsia e melhorar o conhecimento deste aspecto importante da dimensão da saúde entre profi ssionais, pacientes e cuidadores para explorar todo o potencial de tratamento e suporte. Descritores: Medicina Complementar; Epilepsia; Religiosidade; Espiritualidade; Cuidado Espiritual. RESUMEN Objetivo: presentar una breve historia del Espiritismo, la visión de la epilepsia por el Espiritismo, y el potencial de la espiritualidad y religiosidad como tratamientos complementarios y coadyuvantes de la epilepsia. Método: esta es una breve revisión del impacto de la fe, la espiritualidad y religiosidad, en particular la fi losofía espiritual como tratamiento complementario de los trastornos neurológicos (centrada especialmente en la epilepsia) y la salud mental. Para esto, se realizó una revisión de la religiosidad/espiritualidad y la epilepsia en la base de datos PubMed y SciELO. Conclusión: el ejercicio de la espiritualidad y la religiosidad puede ser una estrategia de afrontamiento y tratamiento positivo para apoyar la terapia tradicional de los pacientes http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/0034-7167.2016690425i Rev Bras Enferm [Internet]. 2016 jul-ago;69(4):804-10. 804 Vancini RL, et al. The Spiritism as therapy in the health care in the epilepsy con epilepsia y otros trastornos neurológicos. Sin embargo, es necesario desmitificar muchas creencias sobre la epilepsia así como mejorar el conocimiento sobre este importante aspecto de la dimensión de salud entre profesionales, cuidadores y pacientes para explorar su potencial para el tratamiento y el apoyo. Descriptores: Medicina Complementaria; Epilepsia; Religiosidad; Espiritualidad; Cuidado Espiritual. AUTOR CORRESPONDENTE Rodrigo Luiz Vancini E-mail: [email protected] INTRODUCTION Spiritism, in Brazil, has been strongly connected with mental health. For conduct this study, they visited the “spiritual inter- Integrative medicine can complement pharmacologi- vention sections” (São Paulo Spiritist Federation) to observe cal treatment in the epilepsy because it can contribute to the therapies provided. They concluded that further scientific emotional control and stress reduction and consequently studies would be necessary to improve the understanding of improves seizure management and control and quality the offer practices (spiritual healing: educational lectures; dis- of life(1). Spirituality, religiosity, and faith exercise can be obsession: spirit release therapy; passe: laying on of hands; considered potential complementary and coadjutant treat- person advice; prayer; fluid therapy: magnetized water; char- ments for psychiatric symptoms (depression and anxiety), ity/volunteering; and spirit education/moral values) used by neurological disorders, and mental health(2). Particularly in people to optimize the integration of the conventional health epilepsy, many patients turn to their faith in times of illness care with spiritual treatment. and practicing religiosity has been associated with desirable Therefore, the purpose of this review article is to present a health outcomes(3-4). brief history of Spiritism, the vision of epilepsy by Spiritism, However, it is necessary to demystify many religiosity and the potentials of spirituality and religiosity care (by a sci- myths and beliefs about epilepsy. For example, there has been entific perspective) as complementary and coadjutants treat- a view that epilepsy patients are possessed by evil spirits(5-8) ments in epilepsy. and have mystical and supernatural powers(8). Surprisingly, this erroneous view is also found among health professionals, METHOD especially in non-medical(6-7). Fernandes et al.(9) estimate the perception of stigma attached to epilepsy in an urban local- This is a brief review about the impact of faith, spirituality, ity in Brazil and found that people who professed Spiritism and religiosity, particularly the Spiritism philosophy as com- presented the lowest Stigma Scale of Epilepsy scores when plementary treatment to neurological disorders particularly compared to other religions types. focusing on epilepsy. We conduct a review of published ar- Notwithstanding, a growing body of scientific research sug- ticles (about religion/spirituality and epilepsy) in the Pubmed gests that “religiosity and spirituality practices” are positive and Scielo databases. For the preparation of the manuscript coping strategies to improve the general health state of people we read and mention 44 scientific articles. However, for the with epilepsy(10-13) and other neurological diseases and organic theme contextualization, we consulted historical and books disorders (for example, Alzheimer, fibromyalgia, chronic pain, sources (16 in total) related to the topic. depression, and anxiety). It has been shown that spirituality practices are associated with lower suicide rates, less anxiety A brief history of the spiritism and its scientific essence and depression, and greater well-being in people with epilep- and base sy(14). Interestingly, this view was also stated in 19th century by Spiritism was codified in the second half of 19th century in the Spiritism, a philosophy and a science that suggests a new France by Allan Kardec(20), the pen name of the French educa- interpretation for many phenomena through scientific experi- tor Hippolyte Léon Denizard Rivail (1804-1869)(25). After his mentation to demystify many aspects(15-16). studies on Pestalozzi’s education methods at Yverdun Institute Spiritism states that neurological diseases such as epilepsy (Switzerland), he gained a diploma in Natural Sciences at the can be manifested in some individuals who possess an or- Society of Natural Sciences of France and a diploma at the ganic brain predisposition. This philosophy preaches that the French Society for Statistics. He taught comparative anatomy, emotional balance and good education and moral about the physiology, chemistry, and mathematics(26). Kardec was in- spiritual meaning of life and eternity can help individuals to vited to use the scientific method (systematic and controlled prevent the worsening of neurological disorders(17) and that observation, experiments or field research, and analyze by the spiritual influences are not the direct cause of the disorder the logic prism) to investigate spiritual phenomena, then he but may be a factor associated with worse outcomes - chronic listed thousands of questions about social, familiar, personal, or acute disorders(17-19). and spiritual life; God, science, and religion and sent them to Spiritism spread across 35 countries around the world