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Completed

NCT Number: NCT07565142

Medical Effects of Proximal (In-person) Intercessory (PIP) and Virtual Intercessory Prayer (VIP) on Pain and Anxiety

This study examines whether proximal (in-person) intercessory prayer (PIP) and virtual intercessory prayer (VIP) can reduce pain and anxiety in adults seeking care at a family medicine clinic. Participants who report moderate or higher levels of pain or anxiety will be randomly assigned to receive either brief Christian prayer (in person or virtually) or a control condition of 5 minutes of relaxing music. Prayer sessions last approximately 5 to 15 minutes and are led by trained prayer practitioners. All participants complete surveys about their pain and anxiety levels before and after the session, and again at 2 to 4 weeks and 6 to 8 weeks. The goal is to determine whether prayer leads to greater improvement in pain and anxiety symptoms compared to the control condition, whether effects differ between in-person and virtual prayer, and how participants perceive the experience.

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Key information

Conditions

Pain and Anxiety Anxiety Disorders Complementary Therapies Mental Disorders Neurologic Manifestations Pain Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Signs and Symptoms

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

University of Maryland Department of Family and Community Medicine

Baltimore, Maryland, 21201, United States

About this study

This is a prospective, randomized, controlled study with four groups: Immediate In-Person Prayer (Group 1), In-Person Music Control (Group 2), Immediate Virtual Prayer (Group 3), and Virtual Music Control (Group 4). Randomization uses an alternating list with equal probability of assignment to intervention or control within each arm. The PIP arm recruits patients presenting in person at University of Maryland Department of Family and Community Medicine clinics. The VIP arm recruits patients of the same clinics via email outreach, with sessions conducted over Zoom Healthcare. The prayer intervention follows a standardized Christian 5-step prayer model. The control condition consists of a 5 minutes of soothing instrumental music. Outcome assessments use the GAD-7 and likert scare for anxiety and the Numeric Pain Rating Scale for pain, collected at baseline, immediately post-intervention (except GAD-7), 2 to 4 weeks, and 6 to 8 weeks. Secondary analyses examine whether effects vary by age, gender, race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and religious beliefs. Participant perceptions of the prayer experience are also assessed. This is a feasibility and pilot study.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

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

Inclusion criteria

  • Patient at a University of Maryland Department of Family and Community Medicine clinic
  • Score of 4 or more on the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (0-10) and/or score of 10 or more on the GAD-7

Exclusion criteria

  • currently pregnant
  • Change in pain or anxiety medication within 24 hours of potential enrollment

Treatment and study plan

Intercessory Prayer

Behavioral

Brief Christian prayer (5-15 minutes) led by trained volunteer prayer practitioners following a standardized 5-step prayer model. Delivered in person (Arm 1) or via Zoom Healthcare (Arm 3).

Music listening

Behavioral

5 minutes of soothing instrumental music.

Primary outcomes

  1. Change in Pain Intensity

    Time frame: Baseline and immediately post-intervention, 2-4 weeks, and 6-8 weeks

    Change in score on the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (0-10, with 10 being worst possible pain)

  2. Change in Anxiety (Likert Scale)

    Time frame: Baseline and immediately post-intervention

    Change in self-reported anxiety on a Likert scale

  3. Change in Anxiety (GAD-7)

    Time frame: Baseline, 2-4 weeks, and 6-8 weeks

    Change in score on the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item scale (GAD-7)

Secondary outcomes

  1. Participant Perception of Prayer Experience

    Time frame: Immediately post-intervention

    Self-reported participant experience and opinion regarding the prayer intervention, including desire to receive prayer again and opinion on whether prayer should be offered at other medical clinics. Assessed in intervention groups only.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Maryland, Baltimore

Other

Collaborators

  • Global Medical Research Institute

Registry information

Important dates

Study start
2024
Primary completion
2025
Study completion
2025
First posted
May 4, 2026
Registry last updated
May 4, 2026

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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