Meissner Karin, Koch Anne
Institute of Medical Psychology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University of Munich, 80539 Munich, Germany.
Institute for the Study of Religion, Ludwig-Maximilians-University of Munich, 80539 Munich, Germany.
Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2015;2015:641704. doi: 10.1155/2015/641704. Epub 2015 Jul 5.
Objective. There is mounting evidence that more elaborate treatment rituals trigger larger nonspecific effects. The reasons for this remain unclear. In a pilot field study, we investigated the role of psychophysiological changes during a touch-based healing ritual for improvements in subjective well-being. Methods. Heart rate, respiratory rate, and skin conductance levels (SCL) were continuously assessed in 22 subjects before, during, and after a touch-based healing ritual. Participants rated their expectations and subjective well-being was assessed before and after the ritual by the "Short Questionnaire on Current Disposition". Results. Subjective well-being increased significantly from before to after the ritual. The analysis of psychophysiological changes revealed a significant increase in respiratory rate from baseline to ritual, while skin conductance, heart rate, and heart rate variability did not change. Increases in SCL as well as decreases in respiratory rate from baseline to ritual were significantly associated with improvements in subjective well-being. Regression analyses showed increases in SCL to be the only significant predictor of improvements in well-being. Conclusion. Higher sympathetic arousal during a touch-based healing ritual predicted improvements in subjective well-being. Results suggest the occurrence of an anticipatory stress response, that is, a state of enhanced sympathetic activity that is known to precede relaxation.
目的。越来越多的证据表明，更为精细的治疗仪式会引发更大的非特异性效应。其原因尚不清楚。在一项初步的现场研究中，我们调查了基于触摸的治疗仪式过程中心理生理变化对主观幸福感改善的作用。方法。在22名受试者进行基于触摸的治疗仪式之前、期间和之后，持续评估他们的心率、呼吸频率和皮肤电导水平（SCL）。参与者对他们的期望进行评分，并在仪式前后通过“当前状态简短问卷”评估主观幸福感。结果。仪式前后主观幸福感显著增加。心理生理变化分析显示，从基线到仪式过程中呼吸频率显著增加，而皮肤电导、心率和心率变异性没有变化。从基线到仪式过程中SCL的增加以及呼吸频率的降低与主观幸福感的改善显著相关。回归分析表明，SCL的增加是幸福感改善的唯一显著预测因素。结论。基于触摸的治疗仪式中较高的交感神经唤醒水平预示着主观幸福感的改善。结果表明存在一种预期应激反应，即一种已知在放松之前出现的交感神经活动增强状态。
