MedTrace Logo

The Impact of Spiritual Healing on Moderate Depression in Adults

NCT04766242 · Status: UNKNOWN · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 28

Last updated 2021-02-23

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

Depression is a common mental disorder and is together with anxiety the global leading cause of all non-fatal burden of disease. Currently supported treatment for depression is antidepressant medication and different psychotherapeutic interventions. Many patients experience, however, adverse effects of antidepressant medication, while at the same time the access to psychotherapeutic interventions are limited. This is particularly the case for patients suffering from moderate depression. Many patients who suffer from depression turn to complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), and among those therapies often spiritual healing. There is some evidence that consulting a spiritual healer can be beneficial for patients suffer from depression, and that spiritual healing is associated with low risk. The objective of this study is therefor to conduct a pilot RCT (spiritual healing as addition to usual care versus usual care alone) in preparation of a larger trial in adults with moderate depression to examine feasibility and individuals' experience of spiritual healing.

This study is a pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) with two parallel groups. A total of 28 adult patients with moderate depression according to the M.I.N.I. PLUS DSM-V criteria will be randomized to spiritual healing in addition to usual care intervention (n=14) or usual care alone (n=14). Ten treatment sessions (lasting 45-60 minutes each) of spiritual healing will be administered as an adjunct to usual care and compared to usual care alone. Reduction in depression symptoms will be measured with Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and Montgomery and Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) collected at baseline, week 8 and 16, in addition to BDI measurement collected 6 and 12 months after inclusion in the study. To investigate participants' experience with spiritual healing, a qualitative study will be included using a phenomenological hermeneutical method and semi-structured interviews.

Conditions

  • Moderate Depression

Interventions

OTHER

Spiritual healing

The spiritual healing will be based on an assessment of the total health situation of the individual patient. Spiritual healing will mainly consist of a treatment where the healers hold their hands for some time at different parts of the patient's body, known as "power points", outside the patients clothing. The consultation might also include possible life-style advice. The treatments will last for 45-60 minutes each time.

OTHER

Usual care

The care the general practitioner (GP) prescribe when the patients are diagnosed with moderate depression.

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • Sorlandet Hospital HF

    collaborator OTHER_GOV

  • University of Tromso

    lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH
Masking
DOUBLE
Model
PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age
18 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2021-03-01
Primary Completion
2022-04-30
Completion
2022-04-30

Countries

  • Norway

Study Locations

More Related Trials

Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT04766242 on ClinicalTrials.gov