Psalms And Sertraline: Why Faith And Psychiatry Can Work Together

In clinical practice, I’ve met patients who pray fervently — yet hesitate to take antidepressants. Others trust therapy but feel estranged from the faith traditions that once grounded them. There’s an underlying fear that spirituality and psychiatry might cancel each other out. But from both scientific literature and firsthand experience, I’ve come to believe the opposite: that Psalms and sertraline can coexist — and often work best together.

Spirituality offers structure, hope, and meaning — all vital ingredients for mental health recovery. Multiple studies have shown that religious involvement is associated with lower rates of depression, anxiety, and substance use. Faith communities often provide social support, ritual practices, and a sense of identity that reinforces what therapy aims to build: emotional regulation, connection, and a coherent life narrative. These aren’t opposing tools — they’re complementary systems of healing.

As a psychiatrist, my goal isn’t to replace faith with medicine. It’s to help people feel whole again — emotionally, biologically, and spiritually. We can talk about trauma and serotonin. We can respect your rituals while addressing your symptoms. Medications like sertraline can ease the suffering that keeps people from praying, parenting, or working — allowing their faith to bloom again.

And for those who fear that psychiatric care weakens faith, I offer a reframe: psychiatric treatment can actually be the thing that frees you to reengage with your faith more fully. When depression lifts, you may find yourself more able to sing, to focus during prayer, or to extend grace to others. When anxiety calms, you may reconnect with the quiet parts of your spirit that medication doesn’t erase — it reveals. Healing doesn’t diminish spirituality. It can deepen it.

If you're wondering whether it's okay to take your Bible in one hand and your prescription in the other, I’ll say this: Yes. Faith and psychiatry are not enemies. They are partners in your healing.

Scientific References

1. Koenig, H. G., McCullough, M. E., & Larson, D. B. (2001). Handbook of Religion and Health. Oxford University Press.
   [Summarizes over 1,200 studies showing that spiritual and religious involvement is associated with better mental and physical health outcomes.]
   
   

2. Smith, T. B., McCullough, M. E., & Poll, J. (2003). Religiousness and depression: Evidence for a main effect and the moderating influence of stressful life events. Psychological Bulletin, 129(4), 614–636. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.129.4.614
   [A meta-analysis showing religious involvement is associated with fewer depressive symptoms, especially during stress.]
   
   

3. Koenig, H. G. (2009). Research on religion, spirituality, and mental health: A review. The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 54(5), 283–291. https://doi.org/10.1177/070674370905400502
   [Review of studies confirming the mental health benefits of religious engagement.]
   
   

4. Rosmarin, D. H., & Koenig, H. G. (2020). Handbook of Spirituality, Religion, and Mental Health. Academic Psychiatry, 44(3), 271–276. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40596-020-01233-9
   [Emphasizes integrating spirituality into clinical mental health settings.]
   
   

5. Pearce, M. J., Koenig, H. G., & Abernethy, A. P. (2016). Religious coping and depression: A comparison of positive and negative religious coping in medically ill elderly patients. Journal of Clinical Psychology in Medical Settings, 23(4), 417–423. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10880-016-9463-4
   [Shows that positive religious coping is associated with lower depression.]