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.

Efeitos de um programa de reabilitação pulmonar padrão após um período mínimo de tratamento / Effects of a standard pulmonary rehabilitation program after a minimal period of treatment

A Reabilitação Pulmonar (RP) é considerada essencial no tratamento de pacientes com doença pulmonar obstrutiva crônica (DPOC), sendo o condicionamento físico o seu componente chave. A melhor forma de execução desse componente e o seu período mínimo de duração são alvos de investigação científica. O presente estudo piloto teve como objetivo relatar os efeitos de um programa de RP padrão - caracterizado por englobar exercícios de força e de resistência de musculatura sistêmica e respiratória - após um período mínimo (12 sessões) e longo (cinco meses) de tratamento. Participaram do estudo dez pacientes, com DPOC, estádio III, com idade média de 68,1 ± 9,9 anos, sendo oito pacientes do sexo masculino. O treinamento foi realizado três vezes por semana, com duração de 60-70 minutos por sessão, conforme protocolo constituído por: aquecimento; treinamento da musculatura inspiratória; treinamento aeróbio em bicicleta ergométrica por 30 minutos; treinamento resistido de membros superiores e inferiores; e desaquecimento. A intensidade do treinamento foi ajustada inicialmente em 60% da máxima obtida nos respectivos testes de avaliação de cada exercício. Após um período mínimo de 12 sessões, os pacientes apresentaram melhora significante da pressão inspiratória máxima, da distância percorrida no teste de caminhada de seis minutos e da qualidade de vida (p<0,05). Após cinco meses de intervenção, as variáveis analisadas apresentaram melhor evolução em relação as primeiras 12 sessões, porém sem diferença estatística significante . O programa de RP padrão adotado em nosso estudo mostrou-se efetivo após curto período de intervenção, porém a continuidade do tratamento pareceu otimizar os benefícios alcançados em 12 sessões.

Pulmonary Rehabilitation (PR) is considered essential in the treatment of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and physical training is considered its key component. The best form of executing this component and its minimal duration are targets of scientific investigation. The aim of this current pilot study was to report the effects of a PR standard program - characterized by force and endurance exercises of systemic and respiratory muscles - after a short (12 sessions) and long (five months) period of treatment. Ten patients, with COPD, stage III, 68.1 ± 9.9 years old, eight of them of male gender participated in the study. Training was conducted three times per week, 60-70 minutes per session, according to a protocol consisted of the following components: warm-up; inspiratory muscle training, aerobic training in a cycle ergometer; resistance training of upper and lower limbs; and cold-down. The intensity of training was initially set at 60% of maximal value obtained at each respective exercise evaluation test. After the initial 12 sessions, the patients presented significant increments in the inspiratory maximal pressure, distance walked on the six-minute walk test and quality of life score (p<0,05). After five months of intervention, the patients presented a more expressive increment of these variables, although without statistical significance in relation to the initial 12 sessions. The standard PR program reveled to be effective in a short period of intervention; however the continuity of treatment may optimize the benefits achieved in 12 sessions.