Chronic pain is a multidimensional condition that may impair not only physical functioning but also psychological, social, existential, and spiritual well-being. As persistent pain often remains despite optimized medical treatment, addressing these dimensions may constitute an important complementary goal of chronic pain care. Two consecutive feasibility studies explored non-religious approaches to psychospiritual support in an outpatient pain clinic. Study 1 included 12 patients with chronic non-cancer pain and had no control group. Participants received a brief physician-delivered spiritual care intervention based on discussion of life history, meaning and spirituality, active listening, and empathic relationship-building. Spiritual well-being was assessed before and after the intervention using the FACIT-Sp-12. Total spiritual well-being increased significantly (p = 0.034; η² = 0.19), primarily due to improvement in the Peace subscale (p = 0.018; η² = 0.23). Building on these findings, Study 2 was a two-arm, non-randomized pilot feasibility study involving 58 patients: 29 participated in a therapist-led support group and 29 received standard care. The intervention comprised eight sessions combining psychoeducation, mindfulness-based techniques, supportive dialogue, social connection, and meaning-oriented reflection. Outcomes were assessed using the NRS, SWLS, PANAS, WHOQOL-BREF, Spiritual Well-Being Scale, GAD-7, and PHQ-9. Exploratory within-group analyses showed a significant increase in positive affect and reduction in anxiety in the intervention group (p < 0.01 for both), while existential well-being increased without reaching conventional statistical significance (p = 0.056). No corresponding significant changes were observed in the control group. Together, these studies suggest that integrating relationship-based and group-based psychospiritual support into chronic pain care is feasible and may improve selected dimensions of well-being. Rather than focusing exclusively on pain reduction, such interventions may help patients live more meaningfully and function better while pain persists.
Psycho-socio-spiritual Well-Being in Chronic Pain Care