Effects of complementary spiritual therapy on stress, anxiety, burnout syndrome and hematological parameters of professionals in a public hospital: a randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVES: This randomized controlled trial evaluated the stress, anxiety, and burnout of professionals exposed to complementary spiritist therapy (CST), which consists in therapeutic resources as prayer, Spiritist passe, fluidic water and spiritual education or control. METHODS: Seventy-six professionals were randomized to CST or control: to maintain the routine for 5 weeks. The ISSL scale, anxiety and depression Beck's indices, Maslach instrument, subjective well-being and WHOQOL-BREF were used at baseline and five-week. Blood count and cytokine dosage were collected at baseline, one-week and five-week. Analysis using the intention to treat approach. RESULTS: The means of variation of stress (exhaustion phase) between baseline and five-week were -1.50 ± 3.31 in the CST and 0.72 ± 3.50 in the control (p=0.036), effect size for CST group was d=0.65, which is considered medium effect. CST showed decrease in emotional exhaustion and negative affects, and increase in lymphocytes, erythrocyte parameters and platelets between the baseline and five-week (p<0.05). Reduction in IL-1ß and increase in total lymphocyte count were observed with 2-3 sessions per week, but that does not maintain when the number of sessions is decreased. Participants receiving ≥7 sessions reduced emotional exhaustion, depersonalization and stress, and improved hematological parameters throughout the study (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: CST may be effective in reducing stress (exhaustion phase) compared to control. Higher frequency of interventions promotes better psychic state, evidenced by large effect size for emotional exhaustion in burnout, and improves hematological parameters of professionals.

Effects of the laying on of hands on anxiety, stress and autonomic response of employees in a hospital: A double-blind randomized controlled trial.

Mental and behavioral disorders result in increased absenteeism and abandonment of work. The objective of this study was to evaluate the anxiety, stress, depression, negative and positive affects, and hematological and autonomic responses of employees in a public hospital exposed to laying on of hands with (LHS) or without Spiritual connection (control-LHW). METHODOLOGY: Eighty-four employees with anxiety/stress were enrolled and randomly allocated into two groups of intervention LHS by Spiritist "passe" and control-LHW by volunteers with healing intent. Anxiety, stress and depression were evaluated by Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS21). Negative and positive affects by Subjective Well-being Scale (SWS), cardiac autonomic modulation by heart rate variability and cytokines and blood count were assessed by blood sample. RESULTS: Our study showed a significant improvement in the neutrophils (p = 0.041; d = 0.70) and cardiac parasympathetic activity, and reduction in VLF (p < 0.005) in the LHS. There was reduction in erythrocyte parameters and interleukin 10 (p < 0.005) in the control-LHW. In both groups there was a significant reduction in anxiety, stress, depression and negative affects after one session (p < 0.005). CONCLUSION: Laying on of hands with Spiritual connection by Spiritist "passe" appears to be effective in increasing cardiac vagal activity and regulation of immune responses of employees in a public hospital with stress/anxiety.

Effect of Spiritist "Passe" on Preoperative Anxiety of Surgical Patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial, Double-Blind.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the preoperative anxiety of hospitalized patients exposed to Spiritist "passe," laying on of hand with the intention of healing (Sham) and without laying on of hand. Other variables as depression, pain, physiological parameters, muscle tension, and well-being were assessed. Patients in the Spiritist "passe" intervention group showed greater reductions in anxiety (p < 0.05) and muscle tension (p < 0.01) and increases in well-being (p < 0.01). More marked reductions in preoperative anxiety and muscle tension and improvement in well-being were observed in patients exposed to Spiritist "passe" compared to Sham or standard medical care.Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT03356691.

Religiosidade/espiritualidade, indicadores de saúde mental e parâmetros hematológicos de profissio-nais de enfermagem / Religiosity/spirituality, mental health indicators and hematologic parameters of nursing professionals / Religiosidad/espiritualidad, indicadores de salud mental y parámetros hematológicos de profesionales de enfermeiras

Objetivo:analisara relação entre Religiosidade e Espiritualidade,indicadores de saúde mental, parâmetros hematológicos e percepção dasaúde de profissionais deenfermagem.Método:estudo transversal com 53 funcionários. Utilizou-se Medida Multidimensional Breve de Religiosidade e Espiritualidade, Inventário Stress Lipp,Ansiedade e Depressão de Beck, Bem-Estar Subjetivo,hemograma e imunoglobulina A. Resultados:Dimensões Experiências Espirituais Diárias eAutoavaliação Global são os fatores commaior forçade relação com os índices de estresse, depressão e Bem-Estar em profissionais.Participação religiosa e comprometimento foramosfatores que influenciarammaiores valores de leucócitos,neutrófilose imunoglobulina A. Conclusão:os resultados identificaram relação entre Religiosidade e Espiritualidade, indicadores de saúde mental e parâmetros hematológicos. Profissionais de enfermagemmais religiosos e espiritualistas apresentam melhor saúde mental e maior imunidade, além de melhor percepção de saúde (AU).

Objective:to analyze the relationship between Religiosity and Spirituality, mental health indicators and haematological parameters of nurses. Method:cross-sectional study with 53 employees. It was used Brief Multidimensional Measure of Religiosity and Spirituality (BMMRS), Lipp Stress Inventory, Beck Anxiety and Depression and Subjective Wellbeing, hemogram and immunoglobulin A. Results:dimensions Daily Spiritual Experiences and Global Religiosity and Spirituality Self-evaluation are the factors that present greater strength of relation with the indices of stress, depression and Subjective Wellbeing in professionals. Religious participation and impairment were the factors that influenced higher leukocyte, neutrophil and immunoglobulin A values.Conclusion:the results identified a relation between Religiosity and Spirituality, mental health indicators and haematological parameters, demonstrating that more religious and spiritualist nurses have better mental health and immunity,as well as a better perception of health (AU).

Objetivo:analizar la relación entre Religiosidad y Espiritualidad, indicadores de salud mental y parámetros hematológicos de enfermeras. Método:estudio transversal con 53 empleados. Se utilizó Medida Multidimensional Breve de Religiosidad y Espiritualidad (BMMRS), Inventario Stress Lipp, Escalas de Ansiedad y Depresión Beck y Bienestar Subjetivo, cuestionario de clasificación de la salud,hemograma yinmunoglobulina A. Resultados:las dimensiones Experiencias Espirituales Diarias y Autoevaluación Global de Religiosidad y Espiritualidad son los factores que presentan mayor fuerza de relación con los índices de estrés, depresión y Bienestar Subjetivo en profesionales. La participación religiosa y compromiso fueron los principales factores que influyen en los valores de leucocitos, neutrófilos, y la inmunoglobulina A. Conclusión:los resultados identificaron relación entre R/E, indicadores de salud mental y parámetros hematológicos, demostrandoque enfermeras más religiosos y espiritualistas presentan mejor salud mental y mayor inmunidad, además de una mejor percepción de la salud (AU).

Religiousness/Spirituality, Resilience and Burnout in Employees of a Public Hospital in Brazil.

The present study aimed to determine the relation between religiousness/spirituality (R/S), resilience and burnout in employees of a public hospital. A total of 57 participants were evaluated, and the R/S Brief Multidimensional Measure, Pesce and collaborators' resilience scale and Maslach Burnout Inventory were used. Most employees (91.2%) were females. It was observed that the burnout and resilience variables showed statistically significant differences in relation to R/S dimensions. The results identified an association between R/S, resilience and burnout, demonstrating that employees who are more religious and spiritualized have greater resilience and consequently are less often affected by burnout.

Effect of Complementary Spiritist Therapy on emotional status, muscle tension, and wellbeing of inpatients with HIV/AIDS: A randomized controlled trial - single-blind.

Background Complementary Spiritist Therapy includes prayer, Spiritist "passe", fluid therapy (fluidic water or magnetized water), and spiritual education, among other therapeutic resources. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of Complementary Spiritist Therapy with conventional treatment on emotional status, muscle tension and wellbeing of hospitalized patients with HIV/AIDS. Methods Patients were randomly assigned into either the experimental (3 days [10 mins per day/session] of Complementary Spiritist Therapy alongside conventional treatment; n=20) or control (conventional treatment alone; n=21) group. The primary outcome were positive and negative affects evaluated by the Subjective Wellbeing Scale. The secondary outcome were muscle tension, and wellbeing were assessed by visual analogue scales. Results Significant reductions in negative effects (p=0.045), and muscle tension (p=0.022), along with significant increases in wellbeing (p=0.041) were recorded in the experimental group (Complementary Spiritist Therapy). Conclusions Reductions in negative effects and muscle tension, along with increased perceived wellbeing, were observed in hospitalized patients with HIV/AIDS exposed Complementary Spiritist Therapy combined conventional treatment compared to conventional treatment alone.

Effects of Spiritist "passe" (Spiritual healing) on stress hormone, pain, physiological parameters and length of stay in preterm newborns: a randomized, double-blind controlled trial.

Background Among the practices of complementary medicine used to treat several diseases is the Spiritist "passe (SP)." Experimental studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of this energy therapies in reducing anxiety in adults. However, studies evaluating the effects of the "passe" energy therapy on health outcomes in newborns (NBs) are lacking. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of SP on stress hormone levels, pain, physiological parameters and length of stay in NBs. Methods NBs were randomly allocated into two groups: intervention (3 days SP sessions, n=13) and control (3 days sham sessions, n=12). Results In the SP group, respiratory frequency (RF) was found significantly lower (p<0.05), and reduction of heart rate and length of stay were observed, without statistical differences. While in the control, there was higher tendency of cortisol levels (p=0.05). Conclusions In this pilot study, RF reduced and prevented the elevation of the salivary cortisol concentration in preterm NBs receiving the SP compared with the control group.

Efeitos do passe espírita sobre a resposta hematológica e complicações de recém-nascidos hospitalizados: ensaio clínico randomizado / Effect of the spiritist ''passe'' (spiritual healing) on the hematological response and complications of hospitalized newborns: a randomized clinical Trial / Efectos del pase espírita sobre la respuesta hematológica y complicaciones de los recién nacidos internados: ensayo clínico randomizado

Objetivo: Avaliar a resposta hematológica e complicações no período de hospitalização de recém-nascidos submetidos ao passe espírita e à imposição de mãos com intenção de cura. Método: Ensaio clínico randomizado, duplo cego. 24 recém-nascidos foram aleatoriamente designados para o grupo experimental, que recebeu passe espírita durante 10 minutos, três dias consecutivos, e grupo controle que recebeu imposição de mãos com intenção de cura, de duração igual. Os resultados foram avaliados por meio de hemograma antes e após as intervenções e complicações durante a internação hospitalar. Resultados: Nos recém-nascidos do grupo passe espírita houve diferenças significativamente menores na dosagem de eritrócitos totais, hemoglobina e níveis de neutrófilos, maiores nos valores totais e percentagem de linfócitos e nos escores de plaquetas (p<0,05). Referente às complicações, no controle 30,7% utilizaram antibiótico e 15,4% drogas vasoativas comparado com apenas 18,2% uso de antibióticos no grupo exposto ao passe espírita. Conclusões: Maior imunidade, baseado no aumento da contagem de linfócitos, e menor incidência de complicações no período de hospitalização foram observadas em recém-nascidos expostos ao passe espírita comparados à imposição de mãos com intenção de cura (AU).

Objective: To evaluate the hematological response and complications during hospitalization of newborns who were submitted to a Spiritist ''passe'' and laying on of hands aiming the healing. Method: Randomized clinical trial, double blind. 24 newborns were randomly. The experimental group was submitted to a Spiritist ''passe'' for three consecutive days, 10 minutes a day. The control group was submitted to a curative laying on of hands with the same duration. The results were evaluated using a complete blood count collected before and after the interventions, and detecting the number of complications during hospitalization. Results: The newborns who were submitted to Spiritist ''passe'' showed a smaller decrease of their microhematocrit, hemoglobin and neutrophils level, an increase of their total values and percentagem of lymphocyte and platelets (p<0,05). Concerning complications during hospitalization, in the control group 30,7% used antibiotics and 15,4% vasoactive drugs compared to only 18,2% of antibiotic use in the group exposed to Spiritist "passe". Conclusions: Increased immunity, based on increased lymphocyte count, and lower incidence of complications during the hospitalization period were observed in newborns exposed to Spiritist "passe" compared to imposing hands with intent to cure (AU).

Objetivo: Evaluar la respuesta hematológica y las complicaciones durante la internación hospitalaria de los recién nacidos sometidos a pase espírita y la imposición de manos con intención de curar. Métodos: Ensayo clínico aleatorizado, doble ciego. 24 recién nacidos fueron asignados aleatoriamente al grupo experimental, que recibió pase espírita durante 10 minutos, três días consecutivos y el grupo control que recibió la imposición de manos con la intención de curar, con la misma duración. Los resultados se evaluaron mediante hemograma antes y después de las intervenciones y complicaciones durante la internación hospitalaria. Resultados: Se encontró en el grupo experimental diferencias significativamente menores en eritrocitos totales, la hemoglobina y neutrófilos y mayores en los valores totales y en las porcentaje de linfocitos entre grupos y plaquetas (p<0,05). En el grupo control 30,7% utilizaron antibiótico y 15,4% drogas vasoactivas comparado con apenas 18,2% uso de antibióticos en el grupo expuesto al pase espírita. Conclusiones: Mayor inmunidad, basada en el aumento del recuento de linfocitos, y menor incidencia de complicaciones en el período de hospitalización fueron observadas en recién nacidos expuestos al pase espírita comparados a la imposición de manos con intención de curación (AU).

Effectiveness of Spiritist "passe" (Spiritual healing) for anxiety levels, depression, pain, muscle tension, well-being, and physiological parameters in cardiovascular inpatients: A randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Biofield therapies, such as laying on of hands, are used in association with Conventional Medicine as Spiritist "passe", among others. The aim of this study was to evaluate anxiety, depression, pain, muscle tension and well-being, as well as physiological parameters in cardiovascular inpatients submitted to the Spiritist "passe", sham, and no intervention. METHODS: In the total, 41 cardiovascular inpatients submitted to the Spiritist "passe", sham, and no intervention during a 10-min period on 3 consecutive days. They were evaluated through anxiety and depression level, pain, the perceptions of muscle tension and well-being and physiological parameters, before and after interventions. RESULTS: A significant reduction (p=0.001) in anxiety scores and muscle tension (p=0.011), improvement of well-being (p=0.003) and a significant increase in peripheral oxyhemoglobin saturation scores (p=0.028) were observed in Spiritist "passe" patients, and a significant reduction (p=0.028) of muscle tension and improvement of well-being (p=0.045) in sham patients. However, muscle tension reduction (p=0.003) and improvement of well-being (p=0.003) were more accentuated in the Spiritist "passe" compared to sham and no intervention. CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest that the Spiritist "passe" appeared to be effective, reducing anxiety level and the perception of muscle tension, consequently improving peripheral oxyhemoglobin saturation and the sensation of well-being compared to sham and no intervention in cardiovascular inpatients.

Effectiveness of Spiritist Passe (Spiritual Healing) on the Psychophysiological Parameters in Hospitalized Patients.

Context • The coexistence of affective disorders, especially anxiety and depression, with medical illness is a topic of considerable clinical and research interest. Complementary biofield modalities are therapies that involve touch or placement of the hands in or through biofields. Spiritual healing, or Spiritist passe (SP), is a kind of laying on of hands (LOH), and therefore is a biofield therapy. Objective • The current study intended to evaluate the effects of SP on psychological parameters such as anxiety and depression and on the perceptions of muscle tension and wellness as well as physiological parameters, such as pain intensity, heart rate (HR), and oxygen saturation (SpO2). Design • This study was a randomized, controlled trial. Setting • The study took place at the medical clinic of the clinical hospital of the Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro (HC/UFTM) in Uberaba, Brazil. Participants • The participants were patients aged ≥18 y who had been hospitalized in the clinic between August 2014 and June 2015. Intervention • Participants in the no-SP and SP groups were instructed to direct their thoughts to Jesus with wishes to heal during the intervention. In the SP group, the patients underwent application of the SP, and in the no-SP group, workers, students, or volunteers at the Clinical Hospital of Uberaba practiced a kind of LOH in a nonspiritual therapy with intention to healing emitting sincere wishes of improvement to the patients by thought. All procedures in those groups were carried out during a 10-min period on 3 consecutive days. In the control group, the patients lay for 10 min during the same periods on the 3 days, with no intervention occurring. Outcome Measures • The study evaluated depression and anxiety using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression (HAD) scale as well as patients' pain using a visual analog scale (VAS). The study also measured their perceptions of muscle tension and wellness and their physiological parameters: HR and SpO2. Results • Seventy-two patients consented to participate in the study. The SP group showed statistically significant reductions in anxiety (P < .001) and depression (P = .008) between baseline and postintervention, with perceptions of muscle tension significantly decreasing on day 1 (D1) and day 3 (D3) of the study (both < .001) after the interventions and wellness significantly increasing between baseline and postintervention (P = .001) and when compared with the control and no-SP groups, with P = .001. The SP group presented the smallest numbers for HR after the interventions, but no significant differences were found between groups for HR, SpO2, and pain on the VAS. Conclusions • The current research team has concluded that the SP was effective in promoting a state of muscle relaxation, reducing anxiety and depression, decreasing muscle tension, and, consequently, raising the perceptions of wellness in hospitalized patients.

Effects of Isha Hatha Yoga on Core Stability and Standing Balance.

Context • The coexistence of affective disorders, especially anxiety and depression, with medical illness is a topic of considerable clinical and research interest. Complementary biofield modalities are therapies that involve touch or placement of the hands in or through biofields. Spiritual healing, or Spiritist passe (SP), is a kind of laying on of hands (LOH), and therefore is a biofield therapy. Objective • The current study intended to evaluate the effects of SP on psychological parameters such as anxiety and depression and on the perceptions of muscle tension and wellness as well as physiological parameters, such as pain intensity, heart rate (HR), and oxygen saturation (SpO2). Design • This study was a randomized, controlled trial. Setting • The study took place at the medical clinic of the clinical hospital of the Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro (HC/UFTM) in Uberaba, Brazil. Participants • The participants were patients aged ≥18 y who had been hospitalized in the clinic between August 2014 and June 2015. Intervention • Participants in the no-SP and SP groups were instructed to direct their thoughts to Jesus with wishes to heal during the intervention. In the SP group, the patients underwent application of the SP, and in the no-SP group, workers, students, or volunteers at the Clinical Hospital of Uberaba practiced a kind of LOH in a nonspiritual therapy with intention to healing emitting sincere wishes of improvement to the patients by thought. All procedures in those groups were carried out during a 10-min period on 3 consecutive days. In the control group, the patients lay for 10 min during the same periods on the 3 days, with no intervention occurring. Outcome Measures • The study evaluated depression and anxiety using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression (HAD) scale as well as patients' pain using a visual analog scale (VAS). The study also measured their perceptions of muscle tension and wellness and their physiological parameters: HR and SpO2. Results • Seventy-two patients consented to participate in the study. The SP group showed statistically significant reductions in anxiety (P < .001) and depression (P = .008) between baseline and postintervention, with perceptions of muscle tension significantly decreasing on day 1 (D1) and day 3 (D3) of the study (both < .001) after the interventions and wellness significantly increasing between baseline and postintervention (P = .001) and when compared with the control and no-SP groups, with P = .001. The SP group presented the smallest numbers for HR after the interventions, but no significant differences were found between groups for HR, SpO2, and pain on the VAS. Conclusions • The current research team has concluded that the SP was effective in promoting a state of muscle relaxation, reducing anxiety and depression, decreasing muscle tension, and, consequently, raising the perceptions of wellness in hospitalized patients.

Evaluation of breathing exercise in hormonal and immunological responses in patients undergoing abdominal surgery.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effects of sustained deep inspiration in the prevention of postoperative pulmonary complications, the hormonal and immunological responses in patients submitted to abdominal surgery. METHODS: This randomized clinical trial study included 75 patients submitted to abdominal surgery, of which 36 were randomly allocated in the experimental group and underwent sustained deep inspiration during five seconds, in three sets of ten repetitions per day. The others 39 patients were allocated in the control group and were not submitted to any breathing exercise. The following parameters were measured preoperatively, 24h and 48h postoperatively: chest x-ray, serum ACTH, cortisol, IL-4, IL-10, TNF-α, forced expiratory volume in first second (FEV1), forced expiratory flow 25-75% (FEF 25-75), forced vital capacity (FVC), paO2 and paCO2. RESULTS: Mean serum cortisol in patients of the experimental and control groups before surgery were 12.8 mcg/dl (4.6-50) and 10.48 mcg/dl (1-29.1), respectively (p=0.414). The experimental group had significantly increase in serum cortisol levels, 23.6 mcg/dl (9.3-45.8), especially 24h postoperatively (p=0.049). CONCLUSION: Sustained deep inspiration in patients submitted to abdominal surgery determined important changes in serum cortisol, however, without significantly influence the postoperative pulmonary complications and the endocrine and immune responses.

Evaluation of breathing exercise in hormonal and immunological responses in patients undergoing abdominal surgery

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effects of sustained deep inspiration in the prevention of postoperative pulmonary complications, the hormonal and immunological responses in patients submitted to abdominal surgery. METHODS: This randomized clinical trial study included 75 patients submitted to abdominal surgery, of which 36 were randomly allocated in the experimental group and underwent sustained deep inspiration during five seconds, in three sets of ten repetitions per day. The others 39 patients were allocated in the control group and were not submitted to any breathing exercise. The following parameters were measured preoperatively, 24h and 48h postoperatively: chest x-ray, serum ACTH, cortisol, IL-4, IL-10, TNF-α, forced expiratory volume in first second (FEV1), forced expiratory flow 25-75% (FEF 25-75), forced vital capacity (FVC), paO2 and paCO2. RESULTS: Mean serum cortisol in patients of the experimental and control groups before surgery were 12.8 mcg/dl (4.6-50) and 10.48 mcg/dl (1-29.1), respectively (p=0.414). The experimental group had significantly increase in serum cortisol levels, 23.6 mcg/dl (9.3-45.8), especially 24h postoperatively (p=0.049). CONCLUSION: Sustained deep inspiration in patients submitted to abdominal surgery determined important changes in serum cortisol, however, without significantly influence the postoperative pulmonary complications and the endocrine and immune responses.