Recruiting

Energy Healing vs. Sham Energy Healing

Sponsor:

UCLA

Code:

NCT06552728

Conditions

Fibromyalgia

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: Female

Age: 18 - 70+

Healthy Volunteers: Accepted

Interventions

Energy Healing

Study Details

Brief summary:

This study aims to study the clinical effects of Energy Healing using fMRI and determine its application to Fibromyalgia patients. We also want to find out how active Energy Healing compares to sham Energy Healing in terms of brain connectivity and pain interference scores.

Conditions

Fibromyalgia

Study ID

NCT06552728

Start date

Dec 3, 2024

Status verified date

Sep, 2025

Completion date

May, 2027

Anticipated

Primary completion date

Dec, 2026

Anticipated

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: Female

Age: 18 - 70+

Healthy Volunteers: Accepted

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.

Study Design

Enrollment

25 participants

Anticipated

Intervention Model

Single group

Primary purpose

Treatment

Interventions and Outcome Measures

Arms

experimental: Fibromyalgia participants - Energy Healing Intervention

Female Fibromyalgia patients ages 18-75 who meet inclusion/exclusion criteria as stated in the IRB approved study protocol.

Interventions

Energy Healing

EH derives from the theory that by using the body's biological energy, there can be a therapeutic effect that guides the patient towards a homeostatic state. Preliminary data in chronic pain patients, suggests that EH, delivered by an experienced practitioner, is able to reduce self-reported pain symptoms within minutes. Effects lasting for weeks to months have also been anecdotally reported. For patients with pain, this can result in a reduction of symptoms. Participants will also be presented with sham EH as a control.

Primary outcome measure

  • Neural connectivity [ Time Frame: Pre screening, Baseline, Intervention, 3- and 6-month follow ups Post-treatment ]

Central Contacts and Locations

Central contacts

Richard E Harris, PhD

(949) 824-7000richareh@hs.uci.edu

Locations

University of California at Irvine

Recruiting

Irvine, California, United States, 92617

Contacts

Richard Harris, PhD

(949) 824-7000richareh@hs.uci.edu

More Information

Sponsor

University of California, Irvine

Last update posted

Oct 24, 2025

Last verified

Sep, 2025

Trial information was received from ClinicalTrials.gov and was last updated on 2026-09-10. This information was provided to ClinicalTrials.gov by University of California, Irvine on 2025-10-24.