Spiritual Pain: A Symptom in Search of a Clinical Definition

Illueca, Marta; Bradshaw, Ylisabyth S.; Carr, Daniel B.

doi:10.1007/s10943-022-01645-y

Cited by 6 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 35 publications

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“…Of necessity, any definition would be incomplete, and the ones we selected are not intended to be comprehensive but rather illustrative and inclusive. For instance, our definition of spirituality eschews a reliance on transcendence, nonphysicality, or nonmental attributes (e.g., see Illueca et al., 2023 ) because doing so may exclude the relevance of immanent spirituality that has been noted within and outside of Abrahamic traditions (Cowell, 2018 ; Michaelson, 2007 ; Thatamanil, 2006 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Associations of religious and existential variables with psychosocial factors and biomarkers of cardiovascular risk in bereavement

Palitsky,

Chen,

Rentscher

et al. 2023

Aging Cell

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Bereavement increases in prevalence as people age and is associated with multiple psychological and health risks, including cardiovascular risk. Religious and existential variables may play an important role in the health impacts of bereavement. Theorized pathways linking religious and existential variables with health have suggested these associations are due to intermediary psychosocial variables, but have not been tested in bereavement. This research empirically tested these pathways in a bereaved population. In N = 73 adults within 1 year of bereavement (mean age = 64.36), this study examined associations between (1) religious and existential characteristics (religious and spiritual struggles, intrinsic religiosity, and existential quest) and intermediary psychosocial variables (depression, loneliness, and difficulties in emotion regulation), and between (2) intermediary psychosocial variables and bereavement‐relevant health outcomes (self‐reported health, change in health since last year, grief severity, and cardiovascular biomarkers). Cardiovascular biomarkers (heart rate, heart rate variability, and blood pressure) were collected before, during, and after a laboratory grief recall emotion elicitation. Anticipated associations between self‐reported religious and existential characteristics and intermediary variables, and between intermediary variables and self‐reported bereavement‐relevant outcomes, were consistently observed. However, associations between intermediary variables and cardiovascular biomarkers were largely unobserved. This study examined the role of religious and existential variables in whole‐person health after bereavement and is among the first to include biomarkers of cardiovascular risk. Results suggest that although religious and existential variables are associated with important bereavement‐related outcomes, these associations may be “skin‐deep,” and extensions to cardiovascular functioning should be re‐examined.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Associations of religious and existential variables with psychosocial factors and biomarkers of cardiovascular risk in bereavement

Palitsky,

Chen,

Rentscher

et al. 2023

Aging Cell

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“…In palliative patients, spiritual pain often revolves around extracting meaning from the patient’s approaching death. Recent research on this topic has proposed a definition that spiritual pain is discomfort triggered by the person’s relationship to God or a higher power [ 44 ].…”

Section: Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

Challenges in Palliative Care in Latin America: A Narrative Review

Pergolizzi,

LeQuang,

Wagner

et al. 2024

Cureus

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In “graying” populations with extended lifespans and survivable forms of cancer, palliative services become increasingly important but may be difficult to introduce into public discourse, public policy, and healthcare systems. Latin America (LATAM) faces many challenges as it introduces and, in some cases, develops its palliative care programs; though the challenges faced here are in many ways universal ones, LATAM approaches may be unique and based on the region’s specific culture, politics, and economics. This narrative review based on a literature search identified 10 main themes that can be interpreted as challenges and opportunities for palliative care in LATAM. These challenges are integrating palliation into healthcare systems; public policy and funding; therapeutic obstinacy; changing demographics; access to services; analgesia; the role of religion, spirituality, and folk medicine; social determinants of palliative care; low health literacy; and limited clinician training. Some of the LATAM nations have palliative programs and palliative care training in place while others are developing these systems. Integrating this care into existing healthcare and reimbursement systems has been a challenge. A notable challenge in LATAM is also access to care since palliative programs tend to cluster in metropolitan areas and create hardships for rural citizens to access them. The better-defined role of familial caregivers and telehealth may be important factors in the expansion of palliative care in LATAM and beyond.

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“…The World Health Organisation (WHO) has identi ed spiritual health as a major component of holistic care when palliating patients with life-threatening illnesses. [1] Dame Cicely Saunders described that a desolate sense of meaninglessness is encountered by a person at the end of life which is the essence of spiritual pain [2,3] It is evident that spiritual support is an essential component of palliative care to improve the quality of life towards the end. [4] According to a previous study done in Sri Lanka having faith and maintaining hope and dignity are key components of a good death.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cultural adaptation and validation of the Sinhala version of the Spiritual Needs Assessment for Patients (S-SNAP) questionnaire

Ramadasa,

Silva,

Perera

et al. 2024

Preprint

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Background Spiritual support for patients and caregivers of critically ill patients is associated with improved quality of life. This aspect, however, is not incorporated into the current care pathways in Sri Lanka. The Spiritual Needs Assessment for Patients (SNAP) questionnaire, comprised of 3 domains: psychosocial, spiritual and religious, gives a platform for clinicians to assess the spiritual needs of those patients. This study presents the results of validation of the Sinhala version of the SNAP (S-SNAP) questionnaire. Methods The SNAP was translated from English to Sinhala using the standard forward and backward translation process. After verifying the content validity, unambiguity and clarity of items in a focused group discussion, and a pilot study, the pre-final version was tested among 267 volunteers with cancer selected from three state-run cancer care institutions. Data were analysed for internal consistency and item-total correlations. Factor analysis was done using Varimax rotation with Kaiser normalization. A Scree plot was also made to determine the number of factors. Results The mean (SD) age of subjects was 63.2 (11.4) years. The total S-SNAP score ranged from 22–88 (maximum 88). The overall Cronbach’s alpha was 0.94 while item-total correlations varied from 0.26–0.87. Total SNAP score showed inverse correlations with age, Charleson Comorbidity index and Barthel index while a positive correlation was seen with the Karnofsky performance status scale (p < 0.05). Kaiser-Meyer-Olkein value of 0.92 (P = < 0.001) for Bartlett’s test indicated adequate sampling and non-linearity of factors. The scree plot showed a four-factor structure explaining 76% variation. Meaning of life and relationship with a supernatural being and religious rituals are loaded as 2 different factors. Worries, fears and forgiveness are grouped as the third factor while relaxation, coping and sharing feelings are loaded separately. Conclusions The S-SNAP is a reliable and valid tool to assess spiritual suffering among patients with cancers conversant in the Sinhala language.

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Spiritual Pain: A Symptom in Search of a Clinical Definition

Cited by 6 publications

References 35 publications

Associations of religious and existential variables with psychosocial factors and biomarkers of cardiovascular risk in bereavement

Associations of religious and existential variables with psychosocial factors and biomarkers of cardiovascular risk in bereavement

Challenges in Palliative Care in Latin America: A Narrative Review

Cultural adaptation and validation of the Sinhala version of the Spiritual Needs Assessment for Patients (S-SNAP) questionnaire

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