Effect of spiritual healing on chronic idiopathic pain: a medical and psychological study.

OBJECTIVE

To study over a period of one and a half years the effect of spiritual healing on patients with idiopathic pain syndrome using several psychological and medical parameters.

DESIGN

Randomized clinical trial.

SETTING

Outpatient pain clinic.

PATIENTS

Twenty-four patients with idiopathic chronic pain who had passed a pretreatment psychological interview were allocated randomly to receive spiritual healing or no active treatment.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Medical interview (Visual Analog Scale and Pain Clinic Investigation Formula); International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) Data Base Outline; psychological interview (Hopkin's Symptom Checklist, Middlesex Hospital Questionnaire, Beck's Depression Inventory, Coping Strategy Questionnaire, Health Locus of Control scale). Patients were evaluated at baseline and at 2 weeks posttreatment. Final assessment at 1 year posttreatment was done with a modified form of IASP Data Base Outline.

RESULTS

There was a minor decrease in analgesic drug intake and an improvement in sleep patterns in patients treated by the healer. Generally, clinical variables remained unchanged. Attitudes toward spiritual healing improved. There was a decrease in the feeling of hopelessness (p < 0.05) and an increased acceptance of psychological factors as reasons for pain (p < 0.05). Other scores of the psychological tests were unaffected by the healing. However, half (n = 6) of the treated patients felt that spiritual healing gave them some relief.

CONCLUSION

Spiritual healing appears harmless and was subjectively helpful to some patients suffering from idiopathic chronic pain syndrome.