title: Effect of Prayer on Intensity of Migraine Headache: A Randomized Clinical Trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Migraine is a common form of headache that affects patients quality of life negatively. In addition to pharmacologic treatment, there are a variety of nonpharmacologic treatments for migraine headache. In present study, we examined the effect of prayer on intensity of migraine pain.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a prospective, randomized, controlled trial from October 2013 to June 2014, this study has been conducted in Kerman, Iran. We randomly assigned 92 patients in 2 groups to receive either 40 mg of propranolol twice a day for 2 month (group "A") or 40 mg of propranolol twice a day for 2 months with prayer (group "B"). At the beginning of study and 3 months after intervention, patients' pain was measured using the visual analogue scale.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At the beginning of study and before intervention, the mean score of pain in patients in groups A and B were 5.7 ± 1.6 and 6.5 ± 1.9, respectively. According to results of independent t test, mean score of pain intensity at the beginning of study were similar between patients in 2 groups (P > .05). Three month after intervention, mean score of pain intensity decreased in patients in both groups. At this time, the mean scores of pain intensity were 5.4 ± 1.1 and 4.2 ± 2.3 in patients in groups A and B, respectively. This difference between groups was statistically significant (P < .001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study revealed that prayer can be used as a nonpharmacologic pain coping strategy in addition to pharmacologic intervention for this group of patients.
authors: Neuroscience Research Center, Institute of Neuropharmacology, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran; Department of Traditional Medicine, School of Traditional Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran.
authors: Haleh
authors: H
authors: Tajadini
authors: Shefa Neuroscience center, Tehran, Iran nzangiabadi1@gmail.com.
authors: Nasser
authors: N
authors: Zangiabadi
authors: Neuroscience Research Center, Institute of Neuropharmacology, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran.
authors: Kouros
authors: K
authors: Divsalar
authors: Social determinants of health research center, Institute for futures studies in health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran.
authors: Hossein
authors: H
authors: Safizadeh
authors: Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran.
authors: Zahra
authors: Z
authors: Esmaili
authors: School of Nursing and Midwifery, Qazvin University of Medical Science, Qazvin, Iran.
authors: Hossein
authors: H
authors: Rafiei
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D029221:Faith Healing; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran; D008297:Male; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D011433:Propranolol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012067:Religion; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D011433:Propranolol
keywords: alternative therapies; complementary therapies; migraine headache; pain intensity