title: Influence of prayer and prayer habits on outcome in patients with severe head injury.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of the study is to evaluate the effect of prayers on the recovery of the unconscious patients admitted after traumatic brain injury.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A retrospective study of patients with severe head injury was conducted. The Glasgow Coma Scale and Glasgow Outcome Scale scores were examined along with age, gender, smoking, and alcohol intake. There were 13 patients who received prayer and 13 who did not receive prayer during the hospital stay with almost identical mean Glasgow Coma Scale score. The prayer group stayed in the hospital for more days (P = .03). On multivariate analysis, patients' age (P = .01), admission Glasgow Coma Scale score (P = .009), and prayer habits (P = .007) were significant factors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients with prayers habits recovered better following severe head injury. The role of intercessory prayer needs further studies in larger groups.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, LSU Health Sciences Center, Shreveport, Louisiana 71130, USA. pvanne@lsuhsc.edu
authors.forename: Prasad
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vannemreddy
authors.forename: Kris
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bryan
authors.forename: Anil
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nanda
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D015600:Glasgow Coma Scale; D023261:Glasgow Outcome Scale; D006184:Habits; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D012067:Religion; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D016896:Treatment Outcome