Prayer for Treating Psychological Disorders

Page 1 of 3

Does prayer really help those suffering from a mental illness? Learn about prayer as a treatment for depression, anxiety, addictions and other psychiatric disorders.

Before engaging in any complementary medical technique, you should be aware that many of these techniques have not been evaluated in scientific studies. Often, only limited information is available about their safety and effectiveness. Each state and each discipline has its own rules about whether practitioners are required to be professionally licensed. If you plan to visit a practitioner, it is recommended that you choose one who is licensed by a recognized national organization and who abides by the organization's standards. It is always best to speak with your primary health care provider before starting any new therapeutic technique.

Background

Prayer may be defined as the act of asking for something while aiming to connect with God or another object of worship. Praying for the sick or dying has been a common practice throughout history. Individuals or groups may practice prayer with or without the framework of an organized religion.

People may pray for themselves or for others. "Intercessory prayer" refers to prayers said on behalf of people who are ill or in need. Intercessors may have specific objectives or may wish for general well-being or improved health. The person being prayed for may be aware or unaware of the process. In some cases, prayers involve direct content using the hands. Intercessory prayer may also be performed from a distance.

Clergy, chaplains and pastoral counselors are trained by their respective institutions to address the spiritual and emotional needs of physically and mentally ill patients, their families and loved ones.

Theory

It has been suggested that patients who pray for themselves or are aware that others are praying for them may develop stronger coping skills and decreased anxiety, which may improve health. Some people believe that prayer or positive thinking has beneficial effects on the immune, central nervous, cardiovascular or hormonal system.

Studies of the effects of intercessory prayer on health provide conflicting results. Most prayer research is not well designed or reported. Prayer is difficult to study for several reasons:

There are many types of prayers and religions.
Intercessors do not always know patients in studies and, therefore, the prayers are often nonspecific.
Controlled studies with "placebo prayer" are challenging.
There is no widespread agreement on how to best measure outcomes.