Evaluation of the religious influence on the feeling of guilt in patients with chronic pain - a review

Diego Da Silva,Kátia Regina De Moura Vieira,Pedro André Kowacs,Rosana Claudio Silva Ogoshi,Elcio Juliato Piovesan,Eliana Rezende Adami,Marcelo Daudt Von Der Heyde,Caroline Mensor Folchini

doi:10.33448/rsd-v10i17.24008

Abstract

Introduction / Objective: Based on the assumption that pain can be perceived as punishment (pain = penalty), and that this concept of guilt is present in the Judeo-Christian civilization, we decided to review the literature on relevant religious and guilt - which is also a source of suffering - in the management of chronic pain. Methodology. Three searches were carried out that included all articles listed until July 2021 within the PUBMED database. MeshTerm and Boolean operators were used in the following combinations: chronic pain AND religion AND guilt NOT yoga NOT meditation; Chronic pain AND religion NOT yoga NOT meditation; chronic pain AND guilt. Results. Studies carried out in different countries point to the relevance of the chronic relationship of chronic pain to the patient, interfering in a positive way in their evolution, without, however, investigating their relationship with feelings of guilt. Conclusions. The literature is rich in articles on the influence of religiosity in coping with pain, but mentions of feelings of guilt are limited to a single article.

Highlights

Guilt can be defined as an unpleasant or painful feeling, experienced both consciously and unconsciously, which happens at the transgression of some internal or external norm (Bleichmar, 1983)
MeshTerm and Boolean operators were used in the following combinations: 1) chronic pain AND religion AND guilt NOT yoga NOT meditation (0 article); 2) chronic pain AND religion NOT yoga NOT meditation (22 articles); 3) chronic pain AND guilt (1 article)
Patients with chronic pain had significantly higher rates of shame, guilt, fear and feeling of defeat when compared to controls. They noted the importance of future work to offer and deepen from a perspective Beneficial in understanding and managing chronic pain. Regarding another aspect of our systematic review of guilt feelings in patients with chronic pain, we found a single article in which the authors sought a correlation between prevalence and experience of self-conscious emotions, including shame, guilt, humiliation and embarrassment, in patients with chronic low back pain compared to controls Normal

Summary

Introduction

Guilt can be defined as an unpleasant or painful feeling, experienced both consciously and unconsciously, which happens at the transgression of some internal or external norm (Bleichmar, 1983). In 1946, Ruth Benedict, who mastered on this field, introduced the anthropological concepts of "cultures of shame". She addressed to this concept making reference to oriental cultures under the influence of Confucius’ thoughts and referring to independent Western cultures influenced by. "cultures of shame are based on external sanctions for good behavior, not as cultures of guilt, in an internalized conviction of sin. " (Benedict, R, 1989) At this perspective it becomes clear that the sense of guilt should be assessed regarding the cultural context

Methods

Results

Conclusion