| 7/3/2008 3:52:30 AM | Prayer based healing | | 
ak2292
Westland, MI
age: 21
| Might I begin this post with a couple of thoughts. I was first introduced to the concept of intercessory prayer and its role in healing about three years ago when I read Larry Dossey (MD) Meaning and Medicine. He was one of the first authors I've seen mention era III medicine, healing from a distance. He also emphasized that non-localized prayer based healing was beginning to be explored more and more, and the most suprising studies were double bind, that is, neither the medical staff administering care nor patient knew they were being prayed for. And some results showed statistcally significant data, which showed that prayed for groups fared better than control groups, the most striking I came across studied the effects of prayer on cardiac arrythmias and ICU pateints. However, this was a different effect from era II medicine, healing of the body taking place because of the power of the will and mind. (*ie: focus and prayer groups for patients, meditation).
Since then I have seen a couple studies here and there, some of which showed concurrently valid results, had large sample sizes (600 ish per group), and reported p values that were statistically significant. Needless to say, I was and still am impressed. Here, I am reporting several of the interesting studies that I found then and over the last couple hours, with a bit of the basics mentioned for each. As a scientist at heart, I've tried to include from both positve and negative results as well as meta-analysis that summarized groups of findings statistically. But, feel free to add and comment as you see fit.
I realize that this subject could be controversial, especially in the religion forum here. Perhaps, most importantly, I AM NOT here to put down the beliefs of another and certainly, and I WOULD expect the same from all posters. Especially when you consider that some people have experienced miracles in their own lives, beating cancer, living for 10 years with antivirals for HIV and the like.
| | 7/3/2008 3:55:58 AM | Prayer based healing | |
ak2292
Westland, MI
age: 21
| 1) Study questions power of strangers' prayers to assist healing
The Christian Century 123 no9 14 My 2 2006
- The study randomly divided bypass surgery patients from six hospitals into three groups:
604 patients in Group 1 were prayed for by strangers after being told that they might or might not receive prayer.
597 patients in Group 2 did not receive strangers' prayers, after being told they might or might not be prayed for.
603 patients in Group 3 received intercessory prayer after being told they would receive it.
- Patients in Group 2, the only group not to receive the strangers' prayers, fared best, with 51 percent suffering from complications within 30 days of surgery. Patients in Group 1 fared slightly worse, with 52 percent suffering from complications. To researchers, the biggest surprise was that 59 percent of patients in Group 3--who knew of the strangers' prayers--suffered from complications.
- My thoughts...not so suprising really, knowing that you may or may not be prayed for might change your outlook on the situation as well as stir up emotions like apprehension, fear, hopefullness, or derision. That may influence the mind, the nervous system response like switching over to sympathetic etc.
2) Mark Berger, perspectives on prayer for healing, the resurrectionist issue 66.2, 2002
- 500 prayed for, 500 not prayed for, double bind. Reported positive results though
wary of drawing hasty conclusions, prayed for group demonstrated lower CCU scores overall, p value (0.04)
3) I wish I could find this one, its a good devils advocate, but also note there is a study done six months before with the title: Don't count out the power of prayer, also from WMJ.
Title: Studies unable to prove prayer is helpful for patients.
Source: WMJ : official publication of the State Medical Society of Wisconsin (WMJ) 2008 Feb; 107(1): 5
4) Meta analysis – The Efficacy of “Distant Healing”: A Systematic Review of
Randomized Trials John A. Astin, PhD; Elaine Harkness, BSc; and Edzard Ernst, MD, PhD
Data Extraction: Two investigators independently extracted
data on study design, sample size, type of intervention,
type of control, direction of effect (supporting or
refuting the hypothesis), and nature of the outcomes.
Data Synthesis: A total of 23 trials involving 2774 patients
met the inclusion criteria and were analyzed. Heterogeneity
of the studies precluded a formal meta-analysis.
Of the trials, 5 examined prayer as the distant healing
intervention, 11 assessed noncontact Therapeutic Touch,
and 7 examined other forms of distant healing. Of the 23
studies, 13 (57%) yielded statistically significant treatment
effects, 9 showed no effect over control interventions, and
1 showed a negative effect.
Conclusions: The methodologic limitations of several
studies make it difficult to draw definitive conclusions
about the efficacy of distant healing. However, given that
approximately 57% of trials showed a positive treatment
effect, the evidence thus far merits further study.
5) Not double blind study on prayer and health but studies like these are good too, ones that show that people who believe they can heal themselves through alternative methods or find enlightenment during their journey may achieve better health results. Era II medical approaches
Spirit-body healing II: a nursing intervention model for spiritual/creative healing. By Lane MR.
The research study examined the lived experience of art and healing with cancer patients in the Arts in Medicine program at Shands Hospital, University of Florida. Max Van Manen's method of researching the lived experience was used in 63 patients over a 4-year period. Healing themes that emerged from the research were (1) go into darkness, (2) go elsewhere, (3) art becomes the turning point, (4) slip through the veil, (5) know the truth and trust the process, (6) embody your spirit, (7) feel the healing energy of love and compassion, and (8) experience transcendence.
6) Study of the Therapeutic Effects of Intercessory Prayer (STEP) in cardiac bypass patients: a multicenter randomized trial of uncertainty and certainty of receiving intercessory prayer.Benson H, Dusek JA, Sherwood JB, Lam P, Bethea CF, Carpenter W, Levitsky S, Hill PC, Clem DW Jr, Jain MK, Drumel D, Kopecky SL, Mueller PS, Marek D, Rollins S, Hibberd PL.
- Major events and 30-day mortality were similar across the 3 groups. CONCLUSIONS: Intercessory prayer itself had no effect on complication-free recovery from CABG, but certainty of receiving intercessory prayer was associated with a higher incidence of complications.
7) Are there demonstrable effects of distant intercessory prayer? A meta-analytic review.Masters KS, Spielmans GI, Goodson JT.
- Meta analysis
8) The Journal of Parapsychology 67 no1 205 Spr 2003, Correspondence by Larry Dossey MD
LARRY DOSSEY
To the Editor:
I greatly enjoyed James McClenon's "Content Analysis of an Anomalous Experience Collection: Evaluating Evolutionary Perspectives" (JP, 66, 291-316).
Please permit a comment about his observation on page 310 that "no known data link fertility and psi." There may be reason to reconsider this.
Recently, a randomized controlled clinical study originating from Columbia School of Medicine demonstrated a statistically profound effect of distant intercessory prayer, which appears impossible to distinguish from PK (Cha, Wirth, & Lobo, 2001). In this study, 219 women undergoing in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer at a fertility clinic in Seoul, Korea, were prayed for by individuals in the United States, Canada, and Australia. Neither the patients nor the doctors caring for them were informed that a study was being conducted. The women who were prayed for had twice the successful pregnancy rate (50%) as those in the control group (26%, p = .0013).
- Interesting and from my favorite author but not really persuasive
8) A Systematic Review of the Empirical Literature on Intercessory Prayer David R. Hodge
- Meta analysis – 17 studies met inclusion criteria, very detailed analysis cant really summarize the chart which provided authors, design, expectancy results, directed prayer, control, final results
- Findings Supportive of Prayer
Individual assessment revealed that patients who
received intercessory prayer demonstrated significant
improvement compared to those who received standard
treatment devoid of prayer in 7 of the 17 studies. Furthermore,
in an additional 5 studies, the trend favored the
prayer group. This raises the possibility that an increase inpower would yield significant findings.
- Findings Unsupportive of Prayer
Conversely, in 10 of the studies, prayer was unassociated
with positive improvement in the condition of clients.
In addition, in many of the studies in which significant
results were obtained, the results were not uniformly positive
across outcome variables.
- The Role of Client Preferences
As the above definition of evidence-based practice
implies, the APA’s Presidential Task Force (2006)
emphasizes the importance of client preferences in the
selection of interventions. In other words, clients’
beliefs and values must also be considered along with
practitioners’ assessment of the best available evidence.
[Edited 7/3/2008 4:16:46 AM]
| | 7/3/2008 4:57:34 AM | Prayer based healing | | 
classicsfan
Charlottetown, PE
age: 51
| I think it telling that the only positive results you quote were published in the Christian Century and the Journal of Parapsychology.
I know that where a study is published is not a definitive comment on it veracity, but it is somewhat telling.
| | 7/3/2008 4:59:06 AM | Prayer based healing | |
ak2292
Westland, MI
age: 21
| thats not all i have...but i wanted someone to bump it first! Well in addition to 4 and 9 which were analysis of several key studies
[Edited 7/3/2008 5:01:53 AM]
| | 7/3/2008 8:24:17 AM | Prayer based healing | | skunkbreath
Saint James, MO
age: 89
| I have experienced healings....have been disappointed when prayer did not work to heal another...prayer does work...it is as natural as any use of energy to affect material...
some people are better at it than others....there are a whole lot of wannabees that muddy the water....is it reproduceable enough to study with current instruments and protocols?..i don't know...
| | 7/3/2008 10:27:03 AM | Prayer based healing | | 
stanizz
Fort Washington, MD
age: 52
| I beleave in prayer based healing,why? I'm a christian, but I have a few examples of people with extreme emotional issues, physical conditions of the body, ie handicaps, or disease that has disappeared. In other cases it is the generosity of men himself,with his money helping the needy, or a man of christ, or compassion, with the skills take on someone no one else will, and they are saved by that skill. I myself was hit over the head with a 2by4 in a brawl outside a bar in New Orleans, and there was not 1 nuerosurgeon that would touch me because they said I was virtualy dead, and did not want to risk being sued, and a surgeon flew from the west coast and took me on. I lost my hearing, my sense of smell, about 50 lbs, and for a long time had a very bad temper. There were other concequenses as well, way to many to go into, but I had a church, family, and a rugby team with about 3o guys[the ones i was with in the brawl, they were my teammates]praying for me and I'm here. Like I said when every doctor in the state of Louisiana looked at me they just shrugged and said its over don't waste the money. By the way I have pictures if anyone doubts this testimony, just ask I'll show them.
| | 7/3/2008 11:31:15 AM | Prayer based healing | |
ak2292
Westland, MI
age: 21
| thank you so much stanizz for sharing that with us, takes courage to survive and tell about an experience like that.
| | 7/3/2008 2:14:18 PM | Prayer based healing | |
ak2292
Westland, MI
age: 21
| is it reproduceable enough to study with current instruments and protocols?..i don't know...
Thats a very good question skunk, with admittedly conflicting studies and meta analysis showing both sides marginally, theres a big push to get it decided once and for all. Is intercessory prayer a good thing or a waste of scientific minds and resources?
Though certainly not all inclusive list of sources, this list also includes many I could not find through even an on campus state library and were not included above but could be potentially good sources. Definitely reccommend checking them out if you can.
Jantos M, & Kiat H. (2007). Prayer as medicine: how much have we learned? The Gaudia G. (2007).
About intercessory prayer: the scientific study of miracles.
MedGenMed : Medscape General Medicine. 9(1), 56. Medical Journal of Australia. 186(10), S51-3.
Wegehaupt PK. (2008). Studies unable to prove prayer is helpful for patients. WMJ : Official Publication of the State Medical Society of Wisconsin. 107(1), 5.
Belknap MK. (2007). Do not discount power of prayer. WMJ : Official Publication of the State Medical Society of Wisconsin. 106(8), 436.
Roberts L, Ahmed I, & Hall S. (2007). Intercessory prayer for the alleviation of ill health. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (Online). (1), CD000368.
Science Medicine and intercessory prayer by Sloan, Rmakrishnan, Rajasekhar Perspectives in Biology and Medicine 2006, 49 (4) 504 – 514
Dorn J. (2006). Intercessory prayer. American Heart Journal. 152(3), e25.
Brown L. (2006). Practiced by millions, prayer is worthy of more study. Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine. 12(6), 22-3.
The effect of intercessory prayer on wound healing in nonhuman primates. Altern Ther Health Med. 2006 Nov-Dec;12(6):42-8.
Astin JA, Stone J, Abrams DI, Moore DH, Couey P, Buscemi R, Targ E.
The efficacy of distant healing for human immunodeficiency virus--results of a randomized trial. Altern Ther Health Med. 2006 Nov-Dec;12(6):36-41.
| | 7/3/2008 11:13:42 PM | Prayer based healing | | 
lees224
Cohoes, NY
age: 51
| Ak..It can certainly help...I have witnessed terminally ill being healed,,I have been part of healings my self.and been part of healing others..It works..Yes I have also seen people Die...but it is timing..It is Faith...It is belief,without any waivering in person afflicted,and person praying also which may come into this as well...
And also not to forget when people come together in prayer,,God is there,no matter what results,still is there unity,still peoples life change...Something is affected by Every persons life..or passing...
| | 7/4/2008 12:14:32 AM | Prayer based healing | | your_sweetie
Yuba City, CA
age: 49
| I have seen with my own eyes the power of prayer bring life back into the dieing and give life for another year.
I do believe in the power of prayer and feel it is stronger when in groups.
| | 7/4/2008 2:21:31 AM | Prayer based healing | |
ak2292
Westland, MI
age: 21
| Quote from lees224:.
It can certainly help...I have witnessed terminally ill being healed,,I have been part of healings my self.and been part of healing others..It works..Yes I have also seen people Die...but it is timing..It is Faith...It is belief,without any waivering in person afflicted,and person praying also which may come into this as well...
- It is hard to see someone go when you've prayed and prayed and hoped things would get better. Your right, its really hard to let that pain and grief go if you have no faith, no belief system, or no friends and family to help you and each other through
Lees224: And also not to forget when people come together in prayer,,God is there,no matter what results,still is there unity,still peoples life change...Something is affected by Every persons life..or passing...
- I really like that concept of unity and togetherness, especially in the midst of great life-altering change, something that can be terrible and unspeakable at times.
[Edited 7/4/2008 2:24:26 AM]
| | 7/4/2008 5:25:55 AM | Prayer based healing | | 
imagoodone4sure
Xenia, OH
age: 48
| It absolutely works!!!!!!
| | 7/4/2008 6:46:53 AM | Prayer based healing | |
classicsfan
Charlottetown, PE
age: 51
| There is no question that a person's attitude can affect some aspects of some diseases. However, the difficulty comes in proving that praying for someone, who is not aware that anyone is praying for them, affects the outcome of disease.
| | 7/4/2008 2:30:24 PM | Prayer based healing | |
ak2292
Westland, MI
age: 21
| classics,
you definitely have a point there. There a lots of cases where a brighter outlook and determination go a long way. Its this new conception of healing without being aware of it and without effort that is under scrutiny. Perhaps, science will never get to the point of being able to explain that odd coincidence. In 2700 people, 57% in the one study is pretty remarkable in and of itself, even if its a coincidence. Still, would anyone with a heart actually refuse to pray for someone if asked?
| | 7/4/2008 3:06:37 PM | Prayer based healing | | skunkbreath
Saint James, MO
age: 89
| another perspective: If prayer were highly effective, who has the wisdom to chose what to pray for?...what may appear as desirable may be a curse...would like Ud to comment on this...!!!....
Where's lee????...
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