(August 15, 2014 at 4:03 pm)Diablo Wrote:(August 15, 2014 at 4:01 pm)Michael Wrote: Does it heal the sick? Look at who it was that worked with lepers, and with AIDs victims in Africa. It was very largely nuns. Prayer is central to their vocation. I would say it can also very definitely help heal depression and anxiety. Personally, I've never seen compelling evidence of physical illnesses healed, though I know others would argue with me there. But I don't have to see that to see that prayer does, often through the caring hands of others, heal. Prayer does have a beneficial effect - individually and in society. This seems beyond any reasonable doubt to me.
Does it help win football matches? Frankly, I don't care. But cricket, ah, that might be different :-)
And with that I must go for evening prayer +
My bold. Proof, please.
The International Journal of Psychiatry in Medicine
Issue: Volume 39, Number 4 / 2009
Pages: 377 - 392
URL: Linking Options
DOI: 10.2190/PM.39.4.c
A Randomized Trial of the Effect of Prayer on Depression and Anxiety
Peter A. Boelens A1, Roy R. Reeves A2, William H. Replogle A3, Harold G. Koenig A4
A1 University of Mississippi and Shalom Prayer Ministry
A2 Jackson VA Medical Center, University of Mississippi
A3 University of Mississippi Medical Center
A4 Duke University Medical Center and VA Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina
Abstract:
Objective: To investigate the effect of direct contact person-to-person prayer on depression, anxiety, positive emotions, and salivary cortisol levels. Design, Setting, and Participants: Cross-over clinical trial with depression or anxiety conducted in an office setting. Following randomization to the prayer intervention or control groups, subjects (95% women) completed Hamilton Rating Scales for Depression and Anxiety, Life Orientation Test, Daily Spiritual Experiences Scale, and underwent measurement of cortisol levels. Individuals in the direct person-to-person prayer contact intervention group received six weekly 1-hour prayer sessions while those in the control group received none. Rating scales and cortisol levels were repeated for both groups after completion of the prayer sessions, and a month later. ANOVAs were used to compare pre- and post-prayer measures for each group. Results: At the completion of the trial, participants receiving the prayer intervention showed significant improvement of depression and anxiety, as well as increases of daily spiritual experiences and optimism compared to controls (p < 0.01 in all cases). Subjects in the prayer group maintained these significant improvements (p < 0.01 in all cases) for a duration of at least 1 month after the final prayer session. Participants in the control group did not show significant changes during the study. Cortisol levels did not differ significantly between intervention and control groups, or between pre- and post-prayer conditions. Conclusions: Direct contact person-to-person prayer may be useful as an adjunct to standard medical care for patients with depression and anxiety. Further research in this area is indicated.
