Effect of spiritual healing on chronic idiopathic pain: a medical and psychological study.
OBJECTIVE
To study over a period of one and a half years the effect of spiritual healing on patients with idiopathic pain syndrome using several psychological and medical parameters.


METHODS
Randomized clinical trial.


METHODS
Outpatient pain clinic.


METHODS
Twenty-four patients with idiopathic chronic pain who had passed a pretreatment psychological interview were allocated randomly to receive spiritual healing or no active treatment.


METHODS
Medical interview (Visual Analog Scale and Pain Clinic Investigation Formula); International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) Data Base Outline; psychological interview (Hopkin's Symptom Checklist, Middlesex Hospital Questionnaire, Beck's Depression Inventory, Coping Strategy Questionnaire, Health Locus of Control scale). Patients were evaluated at baseline and at 2 weeks posttreatment. Final assessment at 1 year posttreatment was done with a modified form of IASP Data Base Outline.


RESULTS
There was a minor decrease in analgesic drug intake and an improvement in sleep patterns in patients treated by the healer. Generally, clinical variables remained unchanged. Attitudes toward spiritual healing improved. There was a decrease in the feeling of hopelessness (p < 0.05) and an increased acceptance of psychological factors as reasons for pain (p < 0.05). Other scores of the psychological tests were unaffected by the healing. However, half (n = 6) of the treated patients felt that spiritual healing gave them some relief.


CONCLUSIONS
Spiritual healing appears harmless and was subjectively helpful to some patients suffering from idiopathic chronic pain syndrome.
Pain Clinic, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Finland.
D M
DM
Sundblom
S
S
Haikonen
J
J
Niemi-Pynttäri
I
I
Tigerstedt
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008602:Mental Healing; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D059408:Pain Management; D010147:Pain Measurement