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Reiki for depression and anxiety.
Janine Joyce1, G Peter Herbison
1Gardens, Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand, PO Box 8092.
The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews
|April 4, 2015
Summary
Reiki, a subtle energy therapy, shows no evidence of benefit or harm for anxiety and depression in adults. More research is needed to determine its effectiveness for these common mental health conditions.
Area of Science:
- Complementary and Alternative Medicine
- Mental Health Research
- Evidence-Based Practice
Background:
- Anxiety and depression are prevalent mental health conditions with often inadequate treatment outcomes.
- Conventional treatments may require long-term medication, prompting interest in alternative therapies.
- Reiki, a vibrational energy therapy, is increasingly explored for its potential to alleviate anxiety and depression.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review the effectiveness of Reiki for treating anxiety and depression in adults (aged 16 and over).
- To synthesize findings from randomized controlled trials investigating Reiki's impact on anxiety and depression symptoms.
Main Methods:
- Comprehensive literature search across multiple databases (CENTRAL, CCDANCTR, EMBASE, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, AMED) up to November 2014.
- Inclusion criteria focused on randomized trials of Reiki in adults diagnosed with anxiety or depression.
- Data extraction and study selection were performed independently by two authors.
Main Results:
- Three studies were included, involving diverse populations including cancer patients, older adults, and university students.
- Limited data from small subgroups (25 with anxiety, 17 with depression) precluded quantitative analysis, necessitating narrative reporting.
- No evidence emerged to support Reiki's benefit or harm, with high or unclear risk of bias in most studies.
Conclusions:
- There is insufficient evidence to establish the efficacy of Reiki for treating anxiety or depression in individuals aged 16 and above.
- Further high-quality randomized controlled trials are required to determine Reiki's role in managing these mental health conditions.
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