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Fear, Pain, Denial, and Spiritual Experiences in Dying Processes
M Renz1, O Reichmuth2, D Bueche3
11 Psychooncology, Oncology, Cantonal Hospital, St Gallen, Switzerland.
The American Journal of Hospice & Palliative Care
|August 22, 2017
Summary
Dying patients often experience spiritual shifts and altered perceptions, not just distress. Many find peace, with prior spiritual experiences potentially easing the end-of-life process.
Area of Science:
- Palliative Care and End-of-Life Studies
- Psychospiritual Aspects of Dying
- Phenomenology of Consciousness
Background:
- The dying process involves complex physical, psychological, social, and spiritual changes.
- Phenomena like existential suffering and deathbed visions are recognized but poorly understood.
- Interrelationships between fear, pain, spiritual experiences, and altered consciousness near death are largely unknown.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the simultaneous occurrence of fear, pain, and denial in dying patients.
- To explore the transformation of perception from ego-based to ego-distant consciousness during the dying process.
- To determine if spiritual experiences correlate with calmness and occur post-transition, examining altered awareness and social connectedness.
Main Methods:
- Participant observation by interdisciplinary teams in palliative care units.
- Utilized semistructured observation protocols and medication lists.
- Combined descriptive statistics with Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA).
Main Results:
- Most patients experienced fear and pain, alongside spiritual experiences and perceptual transformations, partly independent of medication.
- No patient trajectory showed continuous distress; many appeared to die peacefully.
- Prior near-death or spiritual experiences may facilitate a more peaceful dying process.
Conclusions:
- The end-of-life experience is characterized not only by distress but significantly by states transcending fear, pain, and denial.
- Dying can involve profound shifts in consciousness and spiritual experiences, often leading to peace.
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