This book provides a clear and authoritative summary of the results and clinical implications of research in spiritual healing, energy medicine and the effects of intentionality. Recent publications in the "Archives of Internal Medicine", the "Western Journal of Medicine", "JAMA", and the "Annals of Internal Medicine" have focused on prayer, distant healing and spiritual healing. Therapeutic touch is taught in many nursing schools, and laying-on-of-hands and mental healing are of great interest to the public. But, what is the science behind these practices? Is there any research? Is it any good? What are the implications of this research for medicine and science? How should investigation of spiritual healing proceed, if at all? These are the questions this book explores. This book derives from a project sponsored by the Lawrence S. Rockefeller for the purpose of rigorously evaluating the science of spiritual healing. To produce the book, some of the best researchers in these areas were asked to use a standard set of quality criteria for the evaluation of science and clinical research.
A conference of scientists, physicians, ministers and others then reviewed and discussed this literature and addressed methods for their further evaluation. The conference was organised by the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Duke University, Wake Forest University and the Institute of Noetic Sciences. The evidence level of these areas was rated using standards established by government groups, and published in "JAMA" for classification of the amount and quality of evidence in medicine. Each area was summarised, and clinical implications identified. Recommendations for future research and investigating the impact of healing practices in the clinical setting were also made.
Indice testuale
Section I Critical summaries of current research on spiritual healing The health impact of religious and spiritual practices Intercessory prayer and healing prayer Direct mental interactions with living systems (DMILS) Research on mind-matter interactions (MMI) Research on mind-matter interactions (MMI) involving FieldReg Non-sensory access to information: remote viewing Non-sensory access to information: The Ganzfeild Studies "Energy" healing research Qigong: basic science studies Qigong clinical studies The therapeutic effects of music Laboratory research on bioenergy and healing The impact of healing in a clinical setting Section II Methodological challenges for research on spiritual healing The phenomenology of prayer and healing practices A qualitative research perspective on healing Measurement descriptors and outcome measures Outcomes research: costs and quality of life Randomized clinical trials summary Statistical issues Methods and issues of laboratory research Challenges for healing and intentionality research: causation and information Challenges for healing and intentionality research: social dynamics involved in entering the mainstream Section III Annotated bibliography of clinical research on spiritual healing Section IV A comprehensive bibliography of spiritual healing, "energy" medicine and mental intention research
