Spirituality and Pain Management in Palliative Care

Pain is a common symptom in palliative care settings. It can be difficult to control due to the complex interaction of physical, psychological, social, and spiritual dimensions. Spiritual distress can have a profound effect on pain severity. The corollary is that spiritual and religious practices can play a significant role in pain relief. This chapter first explores the impact of spirituality on pain perception and the effects of spiritual distress on pain severity and then discusses spiritual coping strategies and how they positively influence pain outcomes. The chapter explores spiritual and pain outcome tools commonly used in palliative care settings before reviewing current evidence for the use of spiritual care interventions for pain control. It concludes with some reflections arising from current research and the need for further research in this field.