Spirituality, medicine, and healing

South Med J. 1986 Jun;79(6):736-43. doi: 10.1097/00007611-198606000-00022.

Abstract

Contemporary medicine has given little attention to the spiritual dimension of human experience despite its relevance to our fundamental goal of healing. This exploratory work takes the position that this dimension can and should be reintegrated into health care models and practice. After delineating the scope of inquiry and providing some definitions, I draw upon paradigms from psychology and physics to provide a basis for such integration, and then extend the biopsychosocial model to include the spiritual dimension, discussing some ways in which this perspective might affect our thinking about disease and health care.

MeSH terms

  • Adaptation, Psychological
  • Attitude to Health
  • Child
  • Ego
  • Fear
  • Goals
  • Holistic Health
  • Humans
  • Mental Healing*
  • Mental Processes
  • Middle Aged
  • Models, Psychological
  • Perception
  • Personality
  • Philosophy
  • Physical Phenomena
  • Physics
  • Quality of Life