Marc137
Plusieurs choses
Santé Physique
La dernière revue de Cochrane (2007) sur la question est non concluante, mais elle relève quelques recherches positives qui montrent qu'il n'y a peut-être un effet de la prière d'intercession sur le court de certaines maladies :
Citer:
««MAIN RESULTS: Ten studies are now included (n=7646). We found a slight difference between groups, favouring prayer for death (6 RCTs, N=6782, RR 0.88 CI 0.80 to 0.97, NNT 42 CI 25 to 167, I(2 )83%) but no differences between groups for clinical state, complications or leaving the study early. Individual studies did find some effects. One trial separated death data into 'high' and 'low' risk and found prayer had a positive effect on those at 'high' risk of death (1 RCT, N=445, RR 0.3 CI 0.2 to 0.46, NNT 8 CI 7 to 11). A second study found a positive effect of prayer on women undergoing IVF treatment with significantly more successful implantations in the prayer group compared with standard care (1 RCT, n=169, RR 0.68 CI 0.53 to 0.86, NNT 5 CI 3 to 10). A larger study assessed the effect of awareness of prayer and found those aware of receiving prayer had significantly more post operative complications than those not receiving prayer (1 RCT, n=1198, RR 1.15 CI 1.04 to 1.28, NNH 14 CI 8 to 50) and those uncertain if they were receiving prayer (1 RCT, n=1205, RR 1.12 CI 1.01 to 1.24, NNH 17 CI 9 to 201)
AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: It is not sensible to interpret any of the interesting results with great confidence. However, for women hoping for successful IVF treatment there are some data suggesting a favourable outcome of prayer but these data are derived from only one of the smaller trials. On the other hand, one of the larger studies suggests that those undergoing operations may not wish to know of the prayer that is being offered on their behalf. Most data are equivocal. The evidence presented so far is interesting enough to justify further study into the human aspects of the effects of prayer. However it is impossible to prove or disprove in trials any supposed benefit that derives from God's response to prayer.»»
Santé mentale
Je n'ai rien trouvé de récent sur MEDLINE à part. ça : Curr Opin Psychiatry. 2007 Nov;20(6):594-8.
Citer:
««RECENT FINDINGS: Research in the US over the past 10 years has shown a clear correlation between affiliation to a religious group and better outcomes in terms of mental and physical health, and even longevity. In the UK, however, the evidence from research is much less clear, and needs a more focused approach to really elucidate what helps people stay mentally healthy and recover from mental ill-health. SUMMARY: Spirituality is now a key issue as individuals, communities and mental health services struggle to combine technical efficacy and business efficiency, but remain human, so as to nurture service users, carers and staff. This is set in a postmodern world, scarred by the trauma of 9/11 and its aftermaths, and in the context of a global consumerism, which has resulted in individuals being increasingly atomized and isolated. A consumerist society means that those classed as 'deficient consumers', especially those whose ill-health and/or poverty excludes them from the marketplace, are seen as outsiders and a dangerous class.»»
Ça correspond aux résultats d'un copain à moi qui faissait un recherche empirique sur le sujet pour son Doc.
C'était une recherche qui corrélait la pratique religieuse avec le score à une échelle de santé mentale et avec une mesure psychométrique de bien-être subjectif. Les résultats étaient faible mais significatifs et positifs.
Je sais aussi que de recherches sur de grands échantillons ont montré que la pratique religieuse aux États Unis n'était pas associée à une plus grande longévité de couple. Les Chrétiens pratiquants se divorcent dans la même proportion que les non-pratiquants et les athées. Je n'ai pas de référence.
C'est tout ce dont je me souviens et que j'ai trouvé de facilement disponible.
Pour ma part, je crois que la prière exerce un effet de cohésion pour celui qui la pratique et un effet placebo dans les cas de prières d'intercession de tiers. La foi coûte cher intellectuellement autant qu'elle rapporte quelques bénéfices...
