Recognizing spiritual distress.

Recent research suggests that while attending worship services may extend life, spiritual distress may cut lives shorter. Although authors of this research agree that more study is needed, they recognize that elderly ill men and women who experience a religious struggle with their illnesses appear to be at risk for an earlier death, even after controlling for baseline health, mental health, and demographic factors. This article examines the patient-professional relationship within the framework of virtue ethics and spiritual distress. A case study is presented.