• M Offenbaecher, N Kohls, L L Toussaint, C Sigl, A Winkelmann, R Hieblinger, A Walther, and A Büssing.
• Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University Hospital Munich, 81377 Munich, Germany ; Department of General Medicine, University Clinic IV, 80336 Munich, Germany ; Generation Research Program, Human Science Center, University of Munich, 83646 Bad Tölz, Germany.
• Evid Based Compl Alt. 2013 Jan 1;2013:178547.

AbstractThe objective of this study was to assess spiritual needs of patients with fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) and to evaluate correlations with disease and health associated variables. Using a set of standardized questionnaires (i.e., Spiritual Needs Questionnaire, Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire, SF-36's Quality of Life, Brief Multidimensional Life Satisfaction Scale, etc.), we enrolled 141 patients (95% women, mean age 58 ± 10 years). Here, needs for inner peace and giving/generativity scored the highest, while existential needs and religious needs scored lowest. Particularly inner peace needs and existential needs correlated with different domains of reduced mental health, particularly with anxiety, the intention to escape from illness, and psychosocial restrictions. Thirty-eight percent of the patients stated needs to be forgiven and nearly half to forgive someone from their past life. Therefore, the specific spiritual needs of patients with chronic diseases should be addressed in clinical care in order to identify potential therapeutic avenues to support and stabilize their psychoemotional situation.

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