Patient patients: Increased patience associated with decreased depressive symptoms in psychiatric treatment

Few studies in positive psychology have examined associations between virtues and mental health in highly distressed samples. This study demonstrates the relevance of the virtue of patience, conceptualized as the capacity to calmly face frustration and suffering, within a spiritually integrated treatment program offering inpatient psychiatric hospitalization. Previously evaluated in non-distressed samples, patience may increase during hospitalization and facilitate positive treatment outcomes. The present study found patience was inversely related to symptoms of major depressive disorder (MDD) in 248 adults (M = 40.78 years; SD = 18.97) with clinical diagnoses for a range of conditions. Participants completed measures assessing patience and MDD symptoms at both intake and discharge. Latent change score results showed decreases in MDD symptoms and increases in patience for life hardships, interpersonal challenges, and daily hassles over the course of hospitalization. Changes in life hardships and interpersonal patience were inversely correlated with changes in MDD symptoms.