Focus on Alternative and Complementary Therapies
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Focus Alternat Complement Ther©2005 Pharmaceutical Press
Focus Altern Complement Ther 1998; 3: 185
As ‘spiritual’ healing is prevalent in the UK and healers are employed at some pain management clinics this study was designed to test whether chronic pain could be relieved to a greater extent by trained healers than by ‘placebo volunteers’ and whether ‘absent’ healing could have a greater effect on chronic pain than no healing at all.
The RCT was conducted in two phases. In Phase 1, five experienced healers were recruited and five individuals, age and sex matched, willing to pose as professional healers, were recruited by advertisement. Healers used their own standard methods. In phase 2, a cabinet was specially constructed with a one-way mirror so patients could receive either ‘distant’ healing (healer inside) or no therapy (empty cabinet). 650 patients (age 18–75) from the local Pain management clinic were approached by letter. After exclusions, 132 volunteers were randomised, firstly into two groups (Phase 1 or Phase 2 studies), secondly, to receive either healing or ‘placebo’ for 8 healing sessions over 8 weeks. The primary outcome measure was the McGill pain questionnaire. Secondary Outcome measures were a VAS score for pain, SF-36 (quality of life), Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale and the MYMOP patient symptom record, and patient experiences of healing during each session. All healing sessions were recorded on video tape.
Full results will be presented at the conference
