Neurological Disorders

The most significant and common neurological disorders include dementia, epilepsy, headache disorders, multiple sclerosis, neuro infections. They also include the disorders that are related to malnutrition, pain related to neurological disorders, Parkinson’s disease, stroke, and traumatic brain injuries (WHO 2006).Developmental disabilities which affect the nervous system in early life, unipolar depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia, are also some of the neurological disorders (Committee on Nervous System Disorders 2001).The above disorders have common features and effects which include a high prevalence, potential disability, subjection to stigmatization and neglection, and amenity to interventions that are effective have low costs.

Disorders associated with the development include conditions such as having a retarded mind, disorders of behavior, cerebral palsy that is as a result of abnormal development or injury to the brain and the central nervous system in childhood. These diseases usually cause huge personal, social, and economic costs as a result of developing early and lifetime disability. Epilepsy disorder mostly affects the youth in the period of their lives when they are most productive. It usually leads to unemployment. Stigmatization and wrong beliefs lead to epilepsy lacking treatment. Schizophrenia results in extreme and unavoidable disability. The disorder can however be controlled by use of several treatments that provide patients with important improvements in productivity and quality of life (Committee on Nervous System Disorders 2001).

The use role of spirituality as a resource for finding meaning and hope in suffering has also been viewed as a major aspect in the procedure of recovering psychologically. Majority of researches have revealed that religious involvement and spirituality are associated with favorable health aftermath, including greater life span, coping skills and health-related quality of life and minor unpleasant inner turmoil, depression and suicide. Many researchers have discovered that addressing the spiritual requirements of the patient may quicken his or her recovery from illness (Mueller, et al., 2001).A research that summarized the outcomes of 147 independent findings involving a sum of 98,975 subjects on the association between religiousness and depressive symptoms found that religiousness is modestly but robustly associated with lower level of depressive symptoms. It was also noted that two specific measures of religiousness, namely extrinsic religious orientation and negative religious coping had a positive association with high frequency of depressive symptoms, while intrinsic religious orientation was associated with low levels of depression (Moreira-Almeida, et al., 2006). A study of the impact of religion and spirituality in schizophrenics showed that religion was used as a positive way of coping by majority of patients and as a negative way of psychotic symptoms and may reduce or increase the risk of suicide attempts by certain percentages.

As seen in the second version of the creation story in Genesis, chapter 2 when

God declared that, it is not good for man to be alone (Genesis 2:18), Scripture suggests that from the beginning, an interpersonal milieu is not only helpful but necessary for germination and flourishing of development. Furthermore, this needed setting is a reflection of life within the social realm of God’s existence. Genesis 1:26 is of the opinion that God is not one being that is in isolation. His nature is dependent upon interpersonal and connections. These biblical verses and others are of help to human beings, they help them ease stress and depression

References

Committee on Nervous System Disorders in Developing Countries, Board on Global Health.2001.Neurological, Psychiatric, and developmental disorders: Meeting the challenge in the developing world.

Genesis 1:26 Good News Bible

Genesis 2:18 Good News Bible

Moreira-Almeida, et al 2006. Religiousness and mental health: A review.28 (3):242–250

Mueller, .P.S, et al 2001. Religious involvement, spirituality and medicine: Implications for clinical practice.76 (12):1225–1235

World Health Organization.2006.Neurological Disorders: Public Health Challenges