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Neural correlates of healing prayers, depression and traumatic memories: A preliminary study.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Baldwin, PR; Velasquez, K; Koenig, HG; Salas, R; Boelens, PA
Published in: Complement Ther Med
August 2016

Depression is a global health concern and when rooted in childhood adversity is particularly difficult to treat. In a previous study, we found that healing prayer was effective in reducing depressive symptoms. Subjects suffering with depression according to HAM-D scores underwent task-based brain functional MRI (fMRI) prior to and after a 6-week prayer intervention, and depression symptoms were assessed at both time points and at a 12-month follow-up. Average HAM-D scores decreased from 21.6±3.0 prior to the intervention to 4.0±2.7 immediately afterwards (14 subjects) and remained low (3.7±3.4) at 12-month follow-up (11 subjects). fMRI demonstrated increased activity in the medial prefrontal cortex during focus on the traumatic memory after the prayer intervention. Changes in activity in the left inferior frontal gyrus correlated with improvement in depressive symptoms. Activity in the precuneus region decreased after the prayer intervention when subjects focused on the negative feelings associated with the trauma. We conclude that increased activity in the prefrontal cortex after healing prayer may be associated with increased cognitive control over emotions. Healing prayer may help to dissociate the memory of the trauma from feelings associated with it, as evidenced by changes in the precuneus region.

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Published In

Complement Ther Med

DOI

EISSN

1873-6963

Publication Date

August 2016

Volume

27

Start / End Page

123 / 129

Location

Scotland

Related Subject Headings

  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic
  • Religion
  • Prefrontal Cortex
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Humans
  • Female
  • Faith Healing
  • Emotions
 

Citation

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Baldwin, P. R., Velasquez, K., Koenig, H. G., Salas, R., & Boelens, P. A. (2016). Neural correlates of healing prayers, depression and traumatic memories: A preliminary study. Complement Ther Med, 27, 123–129. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctim.2016.07.002
Baldwin, Philip R., Kenia Velasquez, Harold G. Koenig, Ramiro Salas, and Peter A. Boelens. “Neural correlates of healing prayers, depression and traumatic memories: A preliminary study.Complement Ther Med 27 (August 2016): 123–29. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctim.2016.07.002.
Baldwin PR, Velasquez K, Koenig HG, Salas R, Boelens PA. Neural correlates of healing prayers, depression and traumatic memories: A preliminary study. Complement Ther Med. 2016 Aug;27:123–9.
Baldwin, Philip R., et al. “Neural correlates of healing prayers, depression and traumatic memories: A preliminary study.Complement Ther Med, vol. 27, Aug. 2016, pp. 123–29. Pubmed, doi:10.1016/j.ctim.2016.07.002.
Baldwin PR, Velasquez K, Koenig HG, Salas R, Boelens PA. Neural correlates of healing prayers, depression and traumatic memories: A preliminary study. Complement Ther Med. 2016 Aug;27:123–129.
Journal cover image

Published In

Complement Ther Med

DOI

EISSN

1873-6963

Publication Date

August 2016

Volume

27

Start / End Page

123 / 129

Location

Scotland

Related Subject Headings

  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic
  • Religion
  • Prefrontal Cortex
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Humans
  • Female
  • Faith Healing
  • Emotions