EFFECTS OF ENERGY THERAPY ON PHYSIOLOGICAL RESPONSES TO ACUTE STRESS [REV 9-

这个子项目是利用由NIH/NCRR资助的中心拨款提供的资源的许多研究子项目之一。子项目和调查员(PI)可能从另一个NIH来源获得了主要资金，因此可能会出现在其他CRISE条目中。列出的机构是针对中心的，而不一定是针对调查员的机构。摘要：灵气等补充疗法正变得流行起来。灵气是一种用于放松和疼痛管理的练习，包括与训练有素、有同情心的练习者进行身体接触和社交接触。与许多放松疗法不同，灵气不需要患者参与，这一特点使灵气在医院环境中特别有吸引力，在医院里，患者通常非常焦虑、抑郁、疼痛或服用镇静剂。我们的主要研究问题是确定灵气训练是否会引起生理变化，以及灵气训练是否会影响对随后的急性应激源的反应。次要的研究问题包括评估安慰剂、移情意图或灵气练习者的独特能力带来的益处，以及评估与接受和反应相关的背景特征。基于灵气用于减轻疼痛和焦虑，灵气可能发挥作用的一个潜在机制是影响大脑的情绪中心，从而导致应激途径的活动减少。为了评估这些可能性，我们将对三组70名健康志愿者进行随机、对照、盲法研究。在具体目标1中，我们将评估与对照组相比，灵气30分钟训练前后神经和荷尔蒙激活、大脑活动和心理健康等生理指标的变化。在特定的目标2中，我们将评估灵气影响神经和激素激活、免疫功能和血小板激活的生理标记物的能力。凝血的启动因素是动脉粥样硬化的发展的风险因素，灵气对随后的5分钟急性实验室应激源产生影响。仰卧位控制和假动作组的使用将使我们能够深入了解灵气效应的调节机制。将评估基线特征和治疗效果之间的相互作用。从拟议的研究中获得的信息将提供有关灵气影响的生理途径的详细信息。如果我们要对灵气课程可能带来好处和可能带来伤害的潜在情况做出理性决定，这些信息是至关重要的。灵气如果减少压力途径或减少对压力情况的生理反应，它可能是传统医学的强大辅助工具，并会对健康和经济产生巨大影响。

This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject and investigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source, and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed is for the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator. Abstract: Complementary therapies such as Reiki are becoming popular. Reiki is a practice used for relaxation and pain management that involves physical touch and social contact with a trained, empathetic practitioner. Unlike many relaxation therapies, Reiki requires no participation by the patient, a feature that makes Reiki particularly attractive in the hospital setting, where patients are often extremely anxious, depressed, in pain, or sedated. Our primary research questions are to determine whether physiological changes are induced during a Reiki session and whether a Reiki session affects responses to a subsequent acute stressor. Secondary research questions include assessing which benefits result from placebo, empathetic intentions, or unique abilities of ¿attuned¿ Reiki practitioners and assessing background characteristics associated with acceptance and responsiveness. Based on its use to reduce pain and anxiety, a potential mechanism by which Reiki might exert effects is at the level of affecting emotional centers of the brain with resulting decreases in activity of stress pathways. To assess these possibilities, we will perform a randomized, controlled, blinded study with three groups of 70 healthy volunteers. In Specific Aim 1, we will assess changes in physiological markers of nervous and hormonal activation, brain activity, and psychological well-being before and after a 30-min session of Reiki, as compared to control groups. In Specific Aim 2, we will assess the ability of Reiki to affect physiological markers of nervous and hormonal activation, immune function, and platelet activation an initiating factor of coagulation, a risk factor for the development of atherosclerosis, to an ensuing 5-min acute laboratory stressor. The use of supine-control and sham groups will allow us to gain insights into mechanisms by which Reiki effects are mediated. Interactions between baseline characteristics and treatment effects will be assessed. Information obtained from the proposed studies will provide detailed information on physiological pathways affected by Reiki. This information is critical if we are to make rational decisions on potential situations in which Reiki sessions may provide benefits and those in which there may be the potential for harm. Should Reiki decrease stress pathways or reduce physiological responses to stressful situations, it could be a powerful adjunct to traditional medicine and have enormous health and economic impact.