Living with HIV: responses to a mantram intervention using the critical incident research method.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to identify and describe ways that a spiritually based intervention of silently repeating a mantram-sacred word or phrase-was used as a coping strategy for managing human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) disease.

Design: The design was a qualitative research method, the critical incident technique.

Settings/location: The study was conducted at an academically affiliated Veterans Affairs Hospital in southern California.

Satisfaction and use of a spiritually based mantram intervention for childbirth-related fears in couples.

This study assessed patient satisfaction with the use of a spiritually based (mantram/sacred word) intervention in expecting couples. A mixed-methods design, experimental repeated measures with interviews at 6-month follow-up was conducted. Satisfaction was moderate to high.

Modular psychotherapy for anxiety in older primary care patients.

Objective: To develop and test a modular psychotherapy protocol in older primary care patients with anxiety disorders.

Design: Randomized, controlled pilot study.

Setting: University-based geriatric medicine clinics.

Effects of spiritual mantram repetition on HIV outcomes: a randomized controlled trial.

We examined the efficacy of a psycho-spiritual intervention of mantram repetition--a word or phrase with spiritual associations repeated silently throughout the day--on psychological distress (intrusive thoughts, stress, anxiety, anger, depression), quality of life enjoyment and satisfaction, and existential spiritual well-being in HIV-infected adults. Using a 2-group by 4-time repeated measures design, 93 participants were randomly assigned to mantram (n = 46) or attention control group (n = 47). Over time, the mantram group improved significantly more than the control group in reducing trait-anger and increasing spiritual faith and spiritual connectedness.