A groundbreaking randomized controlled trial conducted by researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine has revealed compelling evidence that proximal intercessory prayer (PIP)—a form of in-person prayer performed by trained volunteers incorporating laying-on-of-hands—can serve as an effective complementary intervention to reduce pain and anxiety in primary care patients. Published in the May/June 2026 issue of the Annals of Family Medicine, this study marks one of the most rigorous and well-powered investigations into the clinical benefits of prayer within a conventional medical setting, particularly targeting underserved populations.
The study enrolled 180 adult patients from the university’s family medicine practice who reported clinically significant symptoms, defined as a pain score of 4 or greater on a standard 0 to 10 scale or elevated anxiety levels measured via the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) scale. Following their routine medical appointments, these individuals were randomly assigned to receive either a five-minute session of Christian intercessory prayer—administered by a trained volunteer who physically touched the patient—or a control intervention consisting of five minutes of soft soothing music. Such a design allowed researchers to measure the specific effects of proximal intercessory prayer while using music as a plausible active control.
The results were both statistically significant and clinically meaningful. Participants receiving the prayer intervention experienced markedly greater immediate reductions in their self-reported pain levels compared to those exposed to music, with these analgesic effects enduring at least until the two-week follow-up. Although differences in pain scores diminished by six weeks post-intervention, the initial pain relief suggests PIP’s capacity as a short-term adjunct to pain management strategies. Intriguingly, anxiety outcomes demonstrated even more profound and durable improvements. Patients in the prayer group displayed significant anxiety reductions immediately after the session, which persisted robustly through the two- and six-week follow-ups, pointing towards sustained psychophysiological benefits.
Safety and acceptability were crucial considerations addressed by the researchers. Notably, the intervention was well tolerated, with zero adverse events reported. Furthermore, nearly all participants receiving prayer—97%—expressed neutrality or positive receptivity towards having PIP available as part of future medical appointments, signifying potential feasibility for integration into clinical practice. These findings underscore the intervention’s alignment with patient preferences and its utility as a non-pharmacological modality that might enhance holistic patient care without the risk of side effects common to medications.
One of the most salient findings of this study relates to health equity. Black participants, a demographic historically underserved and experiencing documented disparities in pain treatment access and outcomes, reported significantly larger reductions in both pain and anxiety compared to their counterparts. Given that prayer is a prevalent form of complementary medicine within many Black communities, these results hold particular cultural and clinical relevance. The data suggest that PIP may represent a culturally congruent, accessible, and effective intervention to help mitigate psychological and physical suffering, thus contributing to efforts to address healthcare disparities in marginalized populations.
Despite its promising outcomes, the research team prudently highlights limitations inherent to this study’s design. The patient cohort was predominantly Black, female, and low-income, reflecting the demographic composition of the clinic’s catchment area; however, this population homogeneity restricts the generalizability of findings to broader and more diverse patient populations. Methodologically, the impossibility of blinding participants and prayer practitioners to treatment allocation introduces potential placebo effects or influences stemming from interpersonal contact and ritualized touch. The researchers advocate for future investigations incorporating control arms that isolate these nonspecific factors to delineate PIP’s precise therapeutic mechanisms.
This study advances the understanding of prayer as a mind-body intervention with plausible neurobiological underpinnings. Co-author Joshua W. Brown, PhD, a neuroscientist with a personal history involving a brain tumor diagnosis, references emerging research indicating that intercessory prayer may modulate brain function in ways beneficial to health. Alterations in neural circuits governing stress, pain perception, and emotional regulation may underlie the empirically observed reductions in pain and anxiety, providing a plausible psychoneuroimmunological explanation for the clinical effects seen with proximal intercessory prayer.
Given that prayer remains the most widely practiced form of complementary medicine in the United States—with nearly half of Americans engaging in prayer regularly and a large majority identifying with Christianity—this study fills a critical knowledge gap. Until now, rigorous randomized trials evaluating in-person intercessory prayer in clinical contexts have been scarce. By demonstrating that a brief prayer intervention can produce tangible health benefits without adverse effects, the University of Maryland team offers a scalable, low-cost adjunct to conventional therapy that may resonate particularly with patients hesitant or contraindicated for pharmacological treatment of pain and anxiety.
The trial was conscientiously registered on ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT07565142) and conducted under stringent ethical oversight by the University of Maryland Baltimore Institutional Review Board. Funding was secured through a Global Medical Research Institute MESH Grant, supporting robust multidisciplinary collaboration among faculty and researchers from the University of Maryland, Indiana University, and the Global Medical Research Institute. These partnerships reflect an integrative approach that melds clinical medicine, psychology, and neuroscience in the investigation of complementary healing modalities.
Future directions for this line of inquiry include expanding patient populations to increase demographic diversity and introducing innovative control conditions that match the prayer intervention with equal interpersonal contact minus spiritual elements. Such refinements are essential to distinguish specific effects of prayer itself from broader psychosocial processes such as human connection, therapeutic touch, and ritualistic behavior. Longitudinal studies with extended follow-up would further clarify the durability and clinical relevance of prayer’s benefits over time.
In conclusion, the University of Maryland’s randomized controlled trial compellingly demonstrates that proximal intercessory prayer, delivered in a primary care environment, can substantially alleviate both pain and anxiety in a safe and well-accepted manner. This intervention’s particular effectiveness among Black patients points to its potential role in addressing longstanding healthcare inequities. As the scientific community continues to unravel the complex interplay between spirituality, brain function, and health, this study establishes PIP as a promising, evidence-based complementary modality meriting integration into patient-centered, holistic care paradigms.
Subject of Research: People
Article Title: Prayer for Pain and Anxiety in a Primary Care Setting: A Randomized Controlled Trial
News Publication Date: 26-May-2026
Web References: https://www.annfammed.org/content/24/3/192, http://dx.doi.org/10.1370/afm.250302
Keywords: Alternative medicine, Chronic pain, Anxiety
