Department of Psychology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, Florida 33124, USA.
Int J Psychiatry Med. 2009;39(3):243-62. doi: 10.2190/PM.39.3.c.
Spiritual Transformation (ST) is accompanied by dramatic changes in spiritual beliefs along with major changes in behaviors, self-view, and attitudes. This study examined types of ST, as well as its antecedents and consequences in people with HIV.
Qualitative content analysis was used to analyze interviews about ST in people's lives in two samples: people with chronic HIV-disease (chronic disease sample, n = 74) and people with HIV who identified themselves as spiritual (spiritual sample, n = 73).
ST occurred in 39% of the chronic disease and 75% of the spiritual sample. These STs were generally positive (95%) and enduring (M = 8.71 +/- 7.43 years). ST was most frequently associated with spiritual experience (in particular near-death experience), substance-use recovery, and HIV/AIDS-diagnosis. Main antecedents were substance-use disorder, education/upbringing, and desire to change. Further themes were depression/helplessness, confrontation with illness/death, social support, and lifestyle. The top six consequences include spiritual intensification, more spiritual practices, positive feelings toward self, recovery from substance-use, finding new meaning and purpose in life, and increased self-knowledge. In the spiritual sample, there was a common pattern of hitting rock bottom with drugs, having a spiritual experience (in particular a near-death experience), and joining a drug program.
Positive ST occurs in a sizable proportion of people with HIV. Importantly, ST often results in an enduring substance-use recovery, and an improved quality of life as indicated by enhanced gratitude, appreciation, joy, sense of peace, and reduced fear of death.
精神转变（ST）伴随着精神信仰的巨大变化，以及行为、自我认知和态度的重大变化。本研究探讨了 HIV 感染者 ST 的类型及其前因后果。
采用定性内容分析法，对两个样本中关于人们生活中的 ST 的访谈进行分析：慢性 HIV 疾病患者（慢性病样本，n=74）和自认为有灵性的 HIV 患者（灵性样本，n=73）。
慢性病样本中有 39%的人发生了 ST，灵性样本中有 75%的人发生了 ST。这些 ST 通常是积极的（95%）和持久的（M=8.71 +/- 7.43 年）。ST 最常与精神体验（特别是濒死体验）、物质使用康复和 HIV/AIDS 诊断相关。主要的前因是物质使用障碍、教育/成长背景和改变的愿望。进一步的主题包括抑郁/无助、面对疾病/死亡、社会支持和生活方式。前六个后果包括精神强化、更多的精神实践、对自我的积极感受、物质使用的康复、在生活中找到新的意义和目的以及自我认识的提高。在灵性样本中，存在一个常见的模式，即因吸毒而陷入困境，经历精神体验（特别是濒死体验），并加入药物治疗计划。
在相当一部分 HIV 感染者中会发生积极的 ST。重要的是，ST 通常会导致持久的物质使用康复，并提高生活质量，表现为增强感恩、欣赏、喜悦、内心的平静和减少对死亡的恐惧。
