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OpenTrials
Completed

NCT Number: NCT00967395

Effect of Healing on Rheumatoid Arthritis

The hypothesis is that healing may influence the patient's general status by altering psychological as well as other body functions of importance for the rheumatoid arthritis. This is tested in a three group design with a control group and two groups receiving healing with or without a healer present. The study is randomized and double blind.

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Key information

Conditions

Rheumatoid Arthritis Arthritis Arthritis, Rheumatoid Autoimmune Diseases Connective Tissue Diseases Immune System Diseases Joint Diseases Musculoskeletal Diseases Rheumatic Diseases Skin and Connective Tissue Diseases

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

Female

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

About this study

The central claim of healers is that this process facilitates self-healing in the patient. Spiritual healing includes several categories, including 'therapeutic touch' and 'intercessory prayer', and the healing may be attributed to God, spirits, universal forces or energies, biological healing energies residing in the healer, or self-healing powers or energies thought to reside latent in the healed organism. The highly controversial hypothesized effects of distant or spiritual healing contradict our traditional sense of reality and are in conflict with what is generally viewed as being in correspondence with modern science.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Patients with rheumatoid arthritis in a stable medication the past 3 months written informed consent

Exclusion criteria

  • Not able to arrange own transport, language problems

Treatment and study plan

Healing

Other

Healing in our study is given be a healer "no-touch", who just has to be present in the room.

Other names: "active healing"

Sham healing

Other

Sham Healing in our study is given be a student "no-touch", who just has to be present in the room.

Other names: "placebo healing"

Primary outcomes

  1. DAS28

    Time frame: 8 weeks follow-up

Secondary outcomes

  1. Colour Doppler fraction

    Time frame: 8 weeks follow-up

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Henning Bliddal

Other

Collaborators

  • Oak Foundation
  • The Danish Rheumatism Association
  • The IMK Foundation

Registry information

Official study title

Effect of Healing on Rheumatoid Arthritis: a Three-arm Double-blind, Randomized, Controlled Trial

Acronym: RAhealing

Important dates

Study start
2008
Primary completion
2009
Study completion
2009
First posted
Aug 27, 2009
Registry last updated
Jan 6, 2012

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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