Chronically ill patients treated by spiritual healing improve in quality of life: results of a randomized waiting-list controlled study.
OBJECTIVE
Little is known about the effects of distant healing in chronically ill patients, the population most likely to see a healer in practice. This study investigated whether distant healing as found in normal practice with patients representative of those seeking treatment from healers changes patients' quality of life substantially.


METHODS
Randomized, waiting-list controlled study of distant healing (anonymous, amulet, and allowing for personal contact) in chronically ill patients.


METHODS
Patient-reported quality of life as expressed by the sum of all MOS SF-36 health survey items.


RESULTS
Sixty patients were treated by various methods of distant healing over 5 months; 59 patients were put on a waiting list (control). Quality of life improved significantly (p < 0.0005) in the treated group (10 points), while it remained stable in the control group. Positive expectation was significantly correlated with outcome.


CONCLUSIONS
Chronically ill patients who want to be treated by distant healing and know that they are treated improve in quality of life.
Wiesendanger
H
H
University Hospital Freiburg, Institute of Environmental Medicine and Hospital Epidemiology, Germany.
Werthmüller
L
L
Reuter
K
K
Walach
H
H
D000328:Adult; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008602:Mental Healing; D010166:Palliative Care; D011788:Quality of Life; D016896:Treatment Outcome