Hope-Giving: Toward a Novel Spirituality-Based Treatment Strategy in Clinical Practice

The emergence of chronic and debilitating diseases requires seeking ways to contribute to recovery or improve patients' quality of life. Due to the antiquity of psychiatry in Iran, this article intends to shed light on spiritual aspect of hope-giving with a novel viewpoint proposed by Persian medicine (PM) scholars. Spirituality is a fundamental approach in clinical practice of ancient Persian physicians, which is presented in their medical treatises and textbooks. In this regard, first we summarized the PM perspectives based on our searching through the selected ancient literature. Second, after a careful interpretation of their recommendations, we classified them and searched for new studies related to these viewpoints. Third, we highlighted the importance of hope and positive expectancies in patient recovery and in their quality of life according to both ancient and modern perspectives. Next, focusing on the spiritual aspect of hope-giving as a distinction between the PM scholars' perspectives and the existing modern views, we suggested integrating this new approach into the curriculum of medical education or as a supplement to existing psychotherapy methods. Moreover, by presenting clear evidence, we discussed how hope-giving can lead to better outcomes for patients, especially in the case of incurable diseases. Finally, we suggested further research to adapt this perspective to the cultural conditions of different societies, to incorporate it in medical education, and to design practical guidelines for using this strategy as a powerful therapeutic tool.