title: Effect of the Spiritist "passe" energy therapy in reducing anxiety in volunteers: A randomized controlled trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In Brazil, one of the most used energy therapies is the Spiritist "passe", which is practiced by Spiritist healers. Although experimental studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of different energy therapies in reducing anxiety and pain, little is known about the effect of the Spiritist "passe" on health outcomes. Therefore, the present study aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of "passe" energy therapy in reducing anxiety symptoms.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this prospective, randomized controlled trial, participants were randomly allocated into two groups: Intervention (8 weekly Spiritist "passe" sessions, n=23), and Control (8 weekly sham Spiritist "passe" sessions, n=27). Anxiety was assessed using the Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-trait).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 97 individuals screened, 50 were included in the final analysis. Decreasing STAI-trait anxiety scores were observed in both groups throughout the study (p<0.0001). By the end of the study, 17% and 63% of intervention and control participants, respectively, still met the criterion for anxiety (p=0.001). However, anxiety reduction was more accentuated in the Spiritist "passe" group (p=0.02).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this small pilot study, anxiety was more markedly reduced in participants receiving the Spiritist "passe" than in controls, warranting larger trials.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  NCT02376959.
authors: Department of Tropical Medicine-UNESP, Univ. Estadual Paulista, Brazil. Electronic address: mip.ricardo@gmail.com.
authors: Ricardo
authors: R
authors: de Souza Cavalcante
authors: Department of Internal Medicine-UNESP, Univ. Estadual Paulista, Brazil. Electronic address: Vanessa_banin@yahoo.com.br.
authors: Vanessa Burgugi
authors: VB
authors: Banin
authors: Department of Pediatrics-UNESP, Univ. Estadual Paulista, Brazil. Electronic address: niurapadula@hotmail.com.
authors: Niura Aparecida
authors: NA
authors: de Moura Ribeiro Paula
authors: Department of Pediatrics-UNESP, Univ. Estadual Paulista, Brazil. Electronic address: daher@fmb.unesp.br.
authors: Solange Ramires
authors: SR
authors: Daher
authors: Department of Dermatology-UNESP, Univ. Estadual Paulista, Brazil. Electronic address: marta.haber@gmail.com.
authors: Marta Cassoni
authors: MC
authors: Habermann
authors: Department of Internal Medicine-UNESP, Univ. Estadual Paulista, Brazil. Electronic address: fhaber@uol.com.br.
authors: Francisco
authors: F
authors: Habermann
authors: Department of Internal Medicine-UNESP, Univ. Estadual Paulista, Brazil. Electronic address: arianemoyses@hotmail.com.
authors: Ariane Moyses
authors: AM
authors: Bravin
authors: Department of Internal Medicine-UNESP, Univ. Estadual Paulista, Brazil. Electronic address: c_eduardo_c@hotmail.com.
authors: Carlos Eduardo Capelasso
authors: CE
authors: da Silva
authors: Department of Internal Medicine-UNESP, Univ. Estadual Paulista, Brazil. Electronic address: landrade@fmb.unesp.br.
authors: Luis Gustavo Modelli
authors: LG
authors: de Andrade
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D001938:Brazil; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012067:Religion; D026443:Spiritual Therapies / Q000379:methods
keywords: Anxiety; Complementary therapies; Energy therapies; Spiritism; Spiritual healing; Therapeutic touch