title: An Initial Study Using Healing Touch for Women Undergoing a Breast Biopsy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine if a noninvasive complementary therapy, Healing Touch, would benefit women undergoing diagnostic procedures for the determination of breast cancer. Women often experience high levels of fear and anxiety during this diagnostic period.
  
  
  METHODS
  A randomized controlled pilot study.
  
  
  METHODS
  An out-patient clinic specializing in breast care management was used. Seventy-three women age 18 to 85 years old participated, with 31 in the control group of standard care and 42 in the intervention group receiving Healing Touch, a noninvasive energy therapy. A specific technique, magnetic clearing, was provided by a practitioner for 15 minutes prior to the biopsy procedure. Both the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and the Coping Resources Inventory were used preprocedurally and the following day to assess changes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A mixed analysis of variance indicated that State Anxiety for the Healing Touch group showed a statistically significant reduction of anxiety that was sustained into the following day, F(2, 142) = 10.94, p < .001. For Trait Anxiety, there was a significant change pre-and postintervention to the day after, F(2, 142) = 5.15, p < .007. The Coping Resources Inventory had significant changes in two subcategories, Emotional, F(2, 142) = 6.10, p = .003, and the Spiritual/Philosophical, F(2, 142) = 6.10, p < .001, in the Healing Touch group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Healing Touch may have benefit in reducing anxiety from diagnostic breast procedures.
authors.affiliation: Private Practice, Minneapolis.
authors.forename: Deborah Rae
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Goldberg
authors.affiliation: The University of Texas Health Science Center Houston, Houston Deb_goldberg2005@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Diane Wind
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Wardell
authors.forename: Noel
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kilgarriff
authors.forename: Berney
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Eichler
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Thomlinson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D001706:Biopsy / Q000379:methods*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D005239:Fear / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D014110:Touch
keywords: Healing Touch; common themes; group/population; healing modalities; stress and coping; women