Prayer is not usually considered a mind-body or a psychological
approach, but it is worthwhile considering it in this context of
mind/body treatments. Changes in the concept of health and illness,
a broadening view of healing and curing, and interest in other
cultural systems of medicine have created a growing openness to
the spiritual dimensions of health. There are many anecdotal
reports of the power of prayer and its effects on health. This has
led to a substantial number of scientific research studies. As of
1992, there were at least 131 controlled trials that evaluated the
effect of prayer on humans, microorganisms, plants, cancer cells and
animals; 56 of these studies found significant effects (Targ, 1997).
In human trials, prayer had a positive effect on levels of stress,
depression, hypertension and substance abuse, illness-related complications,
and life satisfaction (Targ, 1997). In a systematic review of randomized
trials of distant healing, 57% of 23 trials showed a positive treatment
effect (Astin, 2000). A recent study of the effects of direct and distant
healing on chronic pain, however, showed no specific effect after eight
weekly 30 minute treatments (Abbot 2001). This is an area that clearly
warrants further study.
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