The Effects of Energy Healing in Fibromyalgia

Launched by UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, IRVINE · Aug 9, 2024

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is exploring how Energy Healing might help women with fibromyalgia, a condition that causes widespread pain and fatigue. Researchers want to understand how real Energy Healing compares to a fake version (sham Energy Healing) by looking at brain activity using a special type of imaging called fMRI. They are particularly interested in how these treatments affect pain levels and brain connections.

To participate in the study, women aged 18 to 75 with a confirmed diagnosis of fibromyalgia are eligible, provided they have been experiencing pain consistently for the past two months. Participants will need to visit the study site for sessions of both real and sham Energy Healing, as well as for MRI scans. It's important for those interested in joining to know that certain medical conditions or treatments may prevent them from participating, and they should be willing to avoid new medications for their fibromyalgia during the trial. This study could help improve understanding and treatment options for fibromyalgia, so if you think you might qualify, consider discussing it with your healthcare provider!

Gender

FEMALE

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Female
• • Over 18 and under 75 years of age.
• • Fibromyalgia patients must meet the 2016 Fibromyalgia Diagnostic Criteria for the classification of FM.
• • Mean recalled pain over the last seven days (7-day recall) between 4-10 cm on Visual - - - - Analog Scale (VAS) for pain with no pain free days in the last 2 months and active pain in resting state lying on back.
• • No contraindications for MRI, such as metal in the body or electrical devices in the body.
• • Willing to limit the introduction of any new medications or treatment modalities for control of FM symptoms during the study.
• • Able to travel to the study site to receive MRI, EH, and sham EH sessions up to twice weekly.
• • Understanding and willing to complete all study procedures.
• • Capable of giving written informed consent.
• • Proficient ability to speak, read, and write in english.
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • EH within the last 6-months.
• • Have received past treatment from Charlie Goldsmith or know of him or his work.
• • Contraindications to MRI and fcMRI methods. These may include but are not limited to: surgical clips, surgical staples, metal implants, and certain metallic dental material, claustrophobia, etc. \[Note: a more formal description of contraindications for MRI is present -in our DSM Plan\].
• • Presence of known past procedures, devices in the body, claustrophobia, or other contraindications for MRI
• • Presence of a concurrent autoimmune or inflammatory disease such as rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, inflammatory bowel disease, etc. that causes pain.
• • Peripheral neuropathy that interferes with activities of daily living.
• • Routine daily use of narcotic analgesics or history of substance abuse.
• • Stimulant medications, such as those used to treat ADD/ADHD (e.g., amphetamine/ dextroamphetamine \[Adderall®\], methylphenidate, dextroamphetamine), or the fatigue associated with sleep apnea or shift work (e.g., modafinil), are excluded.
• • Concurrent participation in other therapeutic trials.
• • Pregnant or nursing.
• • Severe psychiatric illnesses (current schizophrenia, major depression with suicidal ideation).
• • Active substance abuse disorder in the past 24 months as determined by subject self-report.
• • Use of PRN over the counter (OTC) pain medications (NSAIDs, etc.) on day of MRI scan.
• • Use of PRN narcotic pain medication 48 hours prior to MRI scan.
• • Current active litigation for FM pain.
• • Any impairment, activity or situation that in the judgment of the Principal Investigator or other team member that would prevent satisfactory completion of the study protocol. This includes unreliable, or inconsistent pain scores as deemed by the principal investigator.