Role of Religion and Spirituality in the Patient Pain Experience

Abstract

Spirituality (beliefs or practices that provide meaning in life) and religion (organized system of beliefs or practices) have been empirically shown to affect the experience of chronic and acute pain. Biomedical treatments are expensive, have limiting side effects, and are not completely effective. Further, 60–80% of chronic pain patients adjunctively use religious or spiritual approaches to pain management. Therefore, understanding the positive and negative impact of spirituality and religion has on pain and functional ability is crucial. Spiritual assessment, identifying pain-related “red-flags,” and supporting a patient’s adaptive use of spiritual and religious resources can positively impact a patient’s pain experience.