Tese (doutorado)—Universidade de Brasília, Faculdade de Medicina, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Médicas, 2016. / Submitted by Albânia Cézar de Melo (albania@bce.unb.br) on 2016-04-22T14:02:58Z No. of bitstreams: 1 2016_CesarAugustusFernandesSilva.pdf: 2401858 bytes, checksum: acf58d09eaba06d6f97f517f1584e653 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Raquel Viana(raquelviana@bce.unb.br) on 2016-05-05T20:49:17Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 2016_CesarAugustusFernandesSilva.pdf: 2401858 bytes, checksum: acf58d09eaba06d6f97f517f1584e653 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-05-05T20:49:17Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 2016_CesarAugustusFernandesSilva.pdf: 2401858 bytes, checksum: acf58d09eaba06d6f97f517f1584e653 (MD5) / Introdução: A meditação prânica é uma modalidade de meditação constituída por técnicas de concentração e visualização que presumivelmente permitem ao praticante captar, concentrar e projetar biometenergia (BME) para atuar na manutenção e recuperação da saúde multidimensional, tanto de si mesmo (autocura), como na de outras pessoas, inclusive por meio de tratamento a distância (alterocura). Entende-se por BME o conjunto de energias não-físicas que transcendem o espaço-tempo, não é bloqueável pelas barreiras físicas e podem transmitir intenção. As propriedades da BME, inclusive seus efeitos curativos, ainda são pouco conhecidos. Objetivos: A presente investigação teve como objetivo avaliar os efeitos da BME, tanto a captada ativamente durante as práticas de meditação prânica, como a emitida a distância com intenção de cura, em indivíduos com dores crônicas de coluna, com ou sem ansiedade e depressão, bem como estabelecer algumas de suas propriedades. Metodologia: A investigação compreendeu dois estudos independentes, mas complementares. O primeiro, de série temporal, constou da observação de 49 indivíduos que praticaram meditação prânica por cinco semanas e aprenderam a manipular ativamente BME em seu benefício. O segundo estudo, com delineamento do tipo cross-over, duplo-cego e aleatorizado, foi realizado com 26 indivíduos que receberam, durante três semanas, 12 sessões de cerca de 17 minutos de tratamento a distância com projeção de BME dotada de intenção de cura, realizado por praticante experiente de meditação prânica. Os participantes dos dois estudos apresentavam dores crônicas de coluna, com ou sem manifestações de ansiedade e/ou depressão. Para avaliar a intensidade da dor foram utilizados o questionário de dor de McGill (estudos 1 e 2) e a escala de dor de faces (estudo 2). A ansiedade e a depressão foram avaliadas pelos respectivos inventários de Beck (estudos 1 e 2). A qualidade de vida foi avaliada no estudo 1 mediante o uso do questionário de qualidade de vida desenvolvido pela Organização Mundial da Saúde (WHOQOL–BREF). O campo biometenergético foi mensurado antes e após cada sessão de meditação prânica (estudo 1), ou de tratamento a distância (estudo 2), e foram captadas imagens termográficas das costas dos participantes durante os tratamentos com BME e os tratamentos simulados, utilizando-se câmara sensível à radiação infravermelha (estudo 2). Resultados: No primeiro estudo, após cinco semanas de práticas de meditação prânica, os participantes apresentaram redução significativa das dores crônicas de coluna (p<0,0001) e das manifestações de ansiedade (p=0,006) e depressão (p=0,0007), e melhora da qualidade de vida (p<0,0001). Em paralelo à melhora das condições clínicas, observou-se aumento do campo biometenergético dos participantes (p<0,0001) nos sujeitos que praticaram a meditação com assiduidade. Os resultados do segundo estudo mostraram que três semanas de tratamento a distância com BME foram capazes de reduzir as dores crônicas (p=0,02) e as manifestações de ansiedade ajustada pela depressão (p<0,001), bem como das manifestações de depressão ajustada pela ansiedade (p=0,003). Após cada sessão de tratamento com BME, os participantes apresentaram melhora da intensidade da dor, avaliada pela escala de dor de faces (p=0,01), o que não ocorreu com aqueles que receberam tratamento simulado. Também foi possível observar significativa ampliação do campo biometenergético (p=0,001) e aumento da temperatura cutânea ao longo da coluna vertebral (p<0,001) nos sujeitos tratados com BME, mas não nos que receberam tratamento simulado. Conclusões: A presente investigação mostrou que tanto a captação ativa de BME por praticantes recentes de meditação prânica, como a emissão de BME com intenção de cura por praticante experiente de meditação prânica, tiveram efeitos benéficos em indivíduos com dor crônica, com ou sem manifestações de ansiedade e/ou depressão. Nossos resultados indicam que o tratamento a distância com BME emitida com intenção de cura, mas não o tratamento simulado, foi capaz de aumentar a temperatura corpórea ao longo da coluna vertebral e ampliar o campo biometenergético dos sujeitos do estudo. Estes achados podem ser considerados como potenciais marcadores da eficiência de tratamentos biometenergéticos. _______________________________________________________________________________________________ ABSTRACT / Introduction: Pranic meditation is a modality of meditation whose techniques allow the practitioner purportedly to capture, concentrate, and project biometenergy (BME), capable to act for the maintenance and recovery of multidimensional health, both of ourselves (self-healing), and of other people (alter-healing), including by means of treatments at a distance. It is postulated that BME is an array of non-physical energies that transcend space-time, are not blocked by physical barriers and can convey intention. The properties of BME, including its healing effects, are poorly understood. Objectives: The present investigation aimed at evaluating the effects of BME, both that actively captured by pranic meditation practitioners, as well as that projected at a distance by them, on chronic back pain, anxiety, and depression, as well as to establish some of its properties. Methodology: The investigation comprised two independent but complementary studies. The first one, a temporal series study, consisted of the observation of 49 recent pranic meditation practitioners suffering of chronic back pain, who learned how to actively manipulate BME to benefit them, during a period of 5-week of meditation practices. The second study was a randomized, cross-over, double-blind evaluation of 26 individuals, who were treated at a distance with 12 sessions of about 17 minutes each, provided by a experienced practitioner of pranic meditation, who projected to them BME with healing intention. The participants of both studies presented chronic back pain with or without anxiety and/or depression. To evaluate pain intensity both the McGill questionnaire (studies 1 and 2) and the faces pain scale (study 2) were used, while anxiety and depression were assessed by the Beck Anxiety Inventory and the Beck Depression Inventory, respectively (studies 1 and 2). The quality of life of the subjects of study 1 was evaluated by means of the questionnaire adopted by the World Health Organization (WHOQOL-BREF). To evaluate the properties of BME, the biometenergetic field was measured before and after each session of pranic meditation (study 1), or of treatment at a distance (study 2), and thermographic images from the back of patients were captured by an infrared-sensitive camera during BME or sham treatments (study 2). Results: In the first study, the participants presented a significant improvement of their manifestations of chronic pain (p<0.0001), anxiety (p=0.006), and depression (p=0.0007), as well as of their quality of life (p<0.0001), after 5 weeks of pranic meditation practice. In parallel with these improvements, a significant increment of the biometenergetic field (p<0.0001) of the practitioners was observed. The results of the second study showed that three weeks of BME treatment at a distance with healing intention were able to significantly reduce chronic back pain (p=0.02), and the manifestations of anxiety adjusted by depression (p<0.001), and depression adjusted by anxiety (p=0.003). After each session of BME treatment, but not of sham treatment, the subjects presented a significant decrease of pain intensity (p=0.01), as assessed by the faces pain scale. It was also observed a significant increase of the biometenergetic field (p=0.001), and of the skin temperature alongside the vertebral column (p<0.001) in the subjects treated with BME, but not in those submitted to sham treatment. Conclusions: The present investigation showed that both the active manipulation of BME by recent practitioners of pranic meditation, and the passive reception of BME with healing intention provided by an experienced pranic meditation practitioner, had beneficial effects on individuals with chronic back pain with or without associated anxiety and/or depression. Our results indicate that the projection of BME with healing intention, but not the sham treatment, increased the skin temperature alongside the vertebral column and expanded the biometenergetic field of the subjects who were submitted to its action. These findings allow us to consider these procedures as possible markers to evaluate the effect of biometenergetic treatments, something that does not exist nowadays.

Tese (doutorado)—Universidade de Brasília, Faculdade de Medicina, 2014. / Submitted by Victor Alves Girotto Borges (victorgirotto2@gmail.com) on 2014-07-31T15:30:38Z No. of bitstreams: 1 2014_JuarezIorioCastellar.pdf: 1054873 bytes, checksum: d56ca7c3e404b4fa7ad87e5bf1e59ad2 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Guimaraes Jacqueline(jacqueline.guimaraes@bce.unb.br) on 2014-07-31T15:48:29Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 2014_JuarezIorioCastellar.pdf: 1054873 bytes, checksum: d56ca7c3e404b4fa7ad87e5bf1e59ad2 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2014-07-31T15:48:29Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 2014_JuarezIorioCastellar.pdf: 1054873 bytes, checksum: d56ca7c3e404b4fa7ad87e5bf1e59ad2 (MD5) / Introdução. O câncer, caracteristicamente, afeta todas as dimensões da saúde humana. O crescimento tumoral compromete a saúde física pela dor e pelas diversas disfunções celulares e orgânicas associadas à condição da sobrevivente do câncer de mama, inclusive a alteração do sistema imunitário. Também afeta a saúde mental-emocional, o que se expressa pela ansiedade, depressão e pelas manifestações de tristeza, cansaço, raiva, desesperança, medo, ressentimento, amargura e culpa, que podem também comprometer a saúde interpessoal dos pacientes de câncer, assim como a saúde espiritual de todos envolvidos. Esse comprometimento multidimensional da saúde justifica a adoção de terapias complementares multidimensionais. A meditação desempenha esse papel com excelência. Objetivos. O propósito do presente estudo foi avaliar o efeito da meditação prânica, uma nova modalidade de meditação secular baseada nos antigos ensinamentos védicos sobre a qualidade de vida, a saúde mental e as concentrações de melatonina de sobreviventes de câncer de mama. Metodologia. O delineamento experimental foi o de um estudo prospectivo observacional do tipo antes e depois, que consiste na aplicação de determinados testes em um grupo, em seguida submetê-lo a uma intervenção e, no período pós-intervenção, avaliar as possíveis mudanças ocorridas. Foram incluídas 75 mulheres, que estavam recebendo tratamento convencional para câncer de mama ou sob controle pós-terapia, e que, concordaram em praticar meditação prânica por 20 minutos, de manhã e à noite, após receberem um treinamento formal. A qualidade de vida das participantes foi avaliada pelos questionários EORTC QLQ-C30 e EORTC QLQ-BR23, e os parâmetros de saúde mental investigados pelo Questionário geral de saúde de Goldberg e pelo Inventário de sintomas de stress para adultos de Lipp. As concentrações de melatonina salivar foram determinadas por radioimunoensaio. Resultados. Após oito semanas de prática de meditação prânica, as praticantes apresentaram melhora significativa dos escores de qualidade de vida que incluíam as funções física (p=0,0007), emocional (p=0,002), social (p=0,004) e de melhora das atividades de vida diária (p=0,01), além de melhora do estado global de saúde (p=0,005), fadiga (p<0,0001), dor (p=0,007), constipação (p=0,03), distúrbios do sono (p=0,01), imagem corporal (p=0,01) e dos sintomas associados ao braço xiii (p=0,007) e à mama (p=0,002). Apresentaram também redução dos efeitos colaterais da terapia sistêmica (p=0,02) e do desconforto associado à queda do cabelo (p=0,02). Algumas praticantes apresentaram melhora cognitiva, entretanto esta condição não pode ser comprovada na análise do grupo como um todo. Não foram observadas melhoras nos resultados da função sexual (p=0,83) e perspectivas (p=0,09). A meditação foi associada à melhora dos parâmetros de saúde mental que incluíam o estresse psíquico (p=0,001), ideação de morte (p=0,02), falta de confiança na capacidade de autodesempenho (p=0,001), distúrbios psicossomáticos (p=0,02) e gravidade dos distúrbios mentais (p=0,0003). As praticantes de meditação prânica também apresentaram redução dos sintomas de estresse psíquico nas últimas 24 horas (p=0,02), na última semana (p=0,009) e no último mês (p=0,03), o mesmo acontecendo com o estresse físico, que apresentou redução nas últimas 24 horas (p=0,002), na última semana (p=0,0009) e no último mês (p=0,009). Esses ganhos foram mantidos, observando-se poucas melhoras quando as práticas de meditação foram estendidas de oito para 15 semanas, sugerindo que os efeitos benéficos das práticas já estavam próximos ao máximo na oitava semana. Houve ampla variação nas concentrações de melatonina salivar das praticantes, detectando-se aumento em 27,7% dos casos, ausência de alteração em 63,9% e redução em 13,8%. Conclusões. Nossos resultados mostraram que as sobreviventes de câncer de mama apresentaram benefícios significativos relacionados à sua saúde mental e qualidade de vida, após um curto período de oito semanas de prática de meditação prânica, consistindo de exercícios simples e de fácil aprendizagem. Embora pesquisas adicionais para esclarecer os possíveis efeitos da meditação prânica em pacientes com câncer sejam desejáveis, os benefícios já demonstrados autorizariam sua adoção como uma terapia complementar para pacientes com câncer, já que nenhum efeito colateral indesejável foi constatado. _______________________________________________________________________________________ ABSTRACT / Background. Cancer characteristically affects all dimensions of human health. The tumor growth compromises the physical health by causing pain, and several cellular and organic dysfunctions, including impairment of the immune system. Cancer also affects the mental-emotional health, as manifested by anxiety and depression, and several distressing feelings as sadness, fatigue, anger, hopelessness, fear, resentment, bitterness, and guilt. These feelings, by their turn, may compromise the interpersonal health of cancer patients, as well as their spiritual health. This multidimensional impairment of the health of cancer patients supports the adoption of complementary multidimensional therapies. Meditation plays this role with excellence. Objectives. The purpose of the present investigation was to assess the effect of pranic meditation, a novel method of secular meditation based on the ancient Vedic teachings, on the quality of life, mental health, and melatonin concentrations of breast cancer survivors. Methodology. The experimental design was of a prospective single-arm observational study using before and after measurements. The subjects were 75 women, submitted either to breast cancer therapy or to post-therapy control, who agreed to practice pranic meditation for 20 minutes, twice a day, during eight weeks, after receiving a formal training. The quality of life of the practitioners was assessed by the EORTC QLQ-C30 and EORTC QLQ-BR23 questionnaires, and the mental health status by the Goldberg’s General Health Questionnaire and by the Lipp’s Stress Symptoms Inventory. Salivary melatonin concentrations were quantified by radioimmunoassay. Results. After eight weeks of pranic meditation practice, the subjects showed a significant improvement of their quality of life scores that included physical (p=0.0007), role (p=0.01), emotional (p=0.002), and social functioning (p=0.004), as well as global health status (p=0.005), fatigue (p<0.0001), pain (p=0.007), sleep disturbances (p=0.01),constipation (p=0.03 body image (p=0.001), arm symptoms (p=0.007) and breast symptoms (p=0.002). They also showed a reduction of the side effects of systemic therapy (p=0.02), and upset by hair loss (p=0.02). Some practitioners showed improvement of their cognitive xv functioning, but this condition could not be demonstrated in the group as a whole. Meditation was associated with improvement of the mental health parameters of the practitioners that included psychic stress (p=0.001), death ideation (p=0.02), performance diffidence (p=0.001), psychosomatic disorders (p=0.02), and severity of mental disorders (p=0.0003). The practitioners of pranic meditation also showed reduction of the symptoms of psychological stress over the last 24 hours (p=0.02), over the last week (p=0.009), and over the last month (p=0.03), as well as of physical stress that was reduced over the last 24 hours (p=0.002), over the last week (p=0.0009), and over the last month (0.009).These gains were maintained, with a little improvement, when meditation practices were extended from eight to fifteen weeks, suggesting that the beneficial effects of the practices had nearly reached their maximum by the 8th week. A wide variation of salivary melatonin concentrations was detected. This pineal hormone was increased in 27.7% of the practitioners, unchanged in 63.9%, and decreased in 13.8%. Conclusions. Our results showed that breast cancer survivors presented significant benefits related to their mental health and quality of life scores, after a short period of practice of pranic meditation, consisting of simple and easy-to-learn exercises. Background. Cancer characteristically affects all dimensions of human health. The tumor growth compromises the physical health by causing pain, and several cellular and organic dysfunctions, including impairment of the immune system. Cancer also affects the mental-emotional health, as manifested by anxiety and depression, and several distressing feelings as sadness, fatigue, anger, hopelessness, fear, resentment, bitterness, and guilt. These feelings, by their turn, may compromise the interpersonal health of cancer patients, as well as their spiritual health. This multidimensional impairment of the health of cancer patients supports the adoption of complementary multidimensional therapies. Meditation plays this role with excellence. Objectives. The purpose of the present investigation was to assess the effect of pranic meditation, a novel method of secular meditation based on the ancient Vedic teachings, on the quality of life, mental health, and melatonin concentrations of breast cancer survivors. Methodology. The experimental design was of a prospective single-arm observational study using before and after measurements. The subjects were 75 women, submitted either to breast cancer therapy or to post-therapy control, who agreed to practice pranic meditation for 20 minutes, twice a day, during eight weeks, after receiving a formal training. The quality of life of the practitioners was assessed by the EORTC QLQ-C30 and EORTC QLQ-BR23 questionnaires, and the mental health status by the Goldberg’s General Health Questionnaire and by the Lipp’s Stress Symptoms Inventory. Salivary melatonin concentrations were quantified by radioimmunoassay. Results. After eight weeks of pranic meditation practice, the subjects showed a significant improvement of their quality of life scores that included physical (p=0.0007), role (p=0.01), emotional (p=0.002), and social functioning (p=0.004), as well as global health status (p=0.005), fatigue (p<0.0001), pain (p=0.007), sleep disturbances (p=0.01),constipation (p=0.03 body image (p=0.001), arm symptoms (p=0.007) and breast symptoms (p=0.002). They also showed a reduction of the side effects of systemic therapy (p=0.02), and upset by hair loss (p=0.02). Some practitioners showed improvement of their cognitive xv functioning, but this condition could not be demonstrated in the group as a whole. Meditation was associated with improvement of the mental health parameters of the practitioners that included psychic stress (p=0.001), death ideation (p=0.02), performance diffidence (p=0.001), psychosomatic disorders (p=0.02), and severity of mental disorders (p=0.0003). The practitioners of pranic meditation also showed reduction of the symptoms of psychological stress over the last 24 hours (p=0.02), over the last week (p=0.009), and over the last month (p=0.03), as well as of physical stress that was reduced over the last 24 hours (p=0.002), over the last week (p=0.0009), and over the last month (0.009).These gains were maintained, with a little improvement, when meditation practices were extended from eight to fifteen weeks, suggesting that the beneficial effects of the practices had nearly reached their maximum by the 8th week. A wide variation of salivary melatonin concentrations was detected. This pineal hormone was increased in 27.7% of the practitioners, unchanged in 63.9%, and decreased in 13.8%. Conclusions. Our results showed that breast cancer survivors presented significant benefits related to their mental health and quality of life scores, after a short period of practice of pranic meditation, consisting of simple and easy-to-learn exercises. Although a further research to clarify the possible mechanisms of pranic meditation on cancer patients is desirable, the benefits already showed warrant its adoption as an adjunct therapy for cancer patients, since no undesirable side effect was detected.