Spiritual aspects of pain

Rev David Mitchell is a minister in the Church of Scotland and Lecturer in Palliative Care in Glasgow.

In his lecture to the West of Scotland Pain Group on Wednesday 23rd November, he challenged the audience with a number of questions:

What is the essence of your spirituality?
Spiritual or religious – what is the difference?
Spiritual pain or spiritual distress – is pain the right word?
What are the indicators of spiritual distress?
How can we help our patients to die in peace?

Listen again:
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Listen to lo-fi stream

Further reading:

• Cassidy S. Sharing the Darkness. London: Longman & Todd, 1988.


• Dalai Lama. The Joy of Living and Dying in Peace. London: Thorsons, 1997.


• Kearney M. Mortality Wounded. New York: Touchstone, 1997.


• Kearney M. A Place of Healing. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2000.


• Mitchell D. Addressing spirituality, spiritual and social aspects of terminal illness. Palliative Care Today 2000.


• Newshan G. Transcending the Physical: Spiritual aspects of pain in patients with HIV and/or cancer. Journal of Advanced Nursing 1998; 28: 1236-1241.


• SIGN 44 Control of Pain in Patients with Cancer. Edinburgh: Scottish Intercollegiate Guideline Network, 2000.


• Stoter D, Hancock C. Spiritual Aspects of Health Care. London: Mosby International, 1995.


• Twycross R. Introducing Palliative Care. 2nd ed. Oxford: Radcliffe Medical Press, 1997.


• Urquart P. Issues of suffering in palliative care. International Journal of Palliative Nursing 1999; 5: 35-39.

tags: pain spirituality palliative care dying

Notice of meeting: Spiritual Pain

Date: Wednesday 23rd November 2005

November's talk will be given by Rev David Mitchell, Chaplain at Huntershill Hospice in Glasgow, and Editor of the Scottish Journal of Healthcare Chaplaincy. He will be speaking on the spiritual aspects of pain and distress.

As usual, the talk will be preceded by a free buffet, 6.15 for 7pm.

Venue: Ebenezer Duncan Centre, Victoria Infirmary, Glasgow.

This meeting is open to all healthcare and chaplaincy workers with an interest in pain.

Please note that the lecture and subsequent discussion will be recorded for later publication on the Group's website.

tags: pain suffering spiritual chaplaincy

Acute Pain Management: Scientific Evidence

The Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists and Faculty of Pain Medicine have published the second edition of Acute Pain Management: Scientific Evidence.

Thanks to Jonathan McGhie for bringing this to our attention in the latest edition of Threshold, the newsletter of The North British Pain Association.