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Study: Prayer More Effective Than Music for Pain Relief
In a randomized trial, 180 adults who received five minutes of Christian prayer reported greater relief from pain and anxiety than those who listened to music.
University of Maryland researchers found that five minutes of in-person Christian prayer, or proximal intercessory prayer , significantly reduced pain and anxiety in 180 primary-care patients compared to a music control group.
Participants receiving prayer reported immediate reductions in pain and anxiety, with anxiety benefits persisting for six weeks, though pain relief faded by week six; 97% of all participants requested future access to prayer.
Authors cautioned that the trial could not blind participants, raising the possibility that placebo effects or mind-body interactions contributed to symptom reductions rather than prayer alone.
Future multicenter studies with diverse populations are necessary to confirm findings and extend PIP's application, which researchers emphasize serves as an adjunct to, not a substitute for, professional medical treatment.