Abstract
This article examines the impact of depression on patients, reviews research on the relationship between religious involvement and depression, and explores the potential role of religious cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) in the treatment of depression in chronic illness. A randomized clinical trial at Duke University is examining the effectiveness of religious CBT versus conventional - secular CBT in the treatment of major depression in patients with chronic illness. A validated religious psychotherapy intervention may provide nurses new strategies for helping chronically ill patients with depression.