Assessment and response to spiritual pain: part I.

Spiritual pain or suffering is common. Cicely Saunders described persons with "total pain" including the physical, psychological, social, and spiritual dimensions. Yet, a construct for what it is, and how to respond, is not so common. In this paper, I hypothesize that the components of spiritual pain can be summarized in the following manner. Spiritual pain or Suffering = ((Awareness of death + Loss of Relationships + Loss of Purpose + Loss of Control))/(Life affirming and transcending Purpose + Internal Sense of Control). Thus, an assessment of spiritual pain or suffering should examine the degree to which the individual is experiencing each of these components and their relationship to each other. Further, each of these components is dynamic, always in process, both within and between the components. A second paper will examine the sufferer's religious responses and suggested pastoral responses.