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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.
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skeptic.com broke the news on Monday, April 20, 2026.
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