Chaplain Charles Barley on spirituality and physiology

The Neurobiology of Pastoral Care

A new research hypothesis links emotions to a part of our complex internal biochemical system (or internal communication system) called peptides. Should this prove to be true, it will represent another significant link in understanding the physiological connections between one's spirituality and physiology.

This internal communication system takes place through electrical and biochemical processes in the body and are necessary for any biological functioning to occur. This information system can be understood as functioning through two key parts: a receptor and a ligand. (There are three types of ligands: neurotransmitters, steroids, and peptides, the largest group of ligands). The communication process is very specific in that a receptor will only receive information from one type of ligand. This sharing of information has been described as a lock (receptor - receiver) and key (ligand - transceiver) process. In this process, information is exchanged which leads to changes in such things as mood, behavior, and physiology. While Dr. Candace Pert believes the peptides of emotions are innate ligands, drugs/medications serve as extrinsic ligands also binding to the same receptors innate peptides use. An example of such a process which Pert discovered was the opiate receptor. This receptor receives only intrinsic or "extrinsic peptides". Endorphins serve as natural body opiates while she discovered that drugs cultivated on the other side of the world can also fit this same receptor to relieve pain or take on potential addiction properties in individuals from the opium plant. [1]

The patient's theology or world view, values, priorities, and commitments can be a part of such connections with stress, pain, and suffering. The patient's spirituality involves emotionally laden thoughts, relationships, concepts, metaphors, and activities. The impact of such emotionally laden thoughts can be transferred through the body to the patient’s organs. This becomes even more significant through associations the patient may have made in meshing their life and theology with the experiences of rewards (positive/reinforcing experiences) and punishments (negative/aversive experiences). This concept becomes all the more important as a professor of neurobiology recommends doctors pay close attention to the patient’s feelings and understandings of how they view their illness, understand the status of the disease, and the state of their health. All of these lead to the understanding of how the patient's spirituality and theology interact with the crisis of illness.

Negative feelings which may be aroused within the patient may offer a significant lead in dealing with the dominant issue(s) during hospitalization.

In light of the fact that such factors can impact the stress, pain, and immune functioning level within the patient, it becomes important for the chaplain to assist the patient in working through the emotions/theological understandings/personal relationships with God, others, and self. Such factors further deepen the connections between Pastoral Care and the patient’s spiritual and physiological well being.

[1] Pert, Candace B. Molecules of Emotion: Why You Feel the Way You Feel, New York, NY: Scribner, 1997.

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