Qualitative Study:
Van Aken, R. & Taylor, B. (2010) Emerging from depression: The experiential process of Healing Touch explored through grounded theory and care study. Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice, 16, 132-137.
This study aimed to explore and analyze the process of receiving Healing Touch (HT) for people with depression using a grounded theory and case study approach. The grounded theory analysis uncovered 3 things: 1) the basic psychosocial problem 2) the stages of the process of emergence from depression and 3) the strategies used within that process. From this analysis a middle range theory was developed that described the process for people with depression receiving HT in four stages: 1) belief in practitioner, self and future self, 2) integrating all aspects of self, 3) accessing inner strength and resources and 4) engaging with life.
Mixed Method Study:
Wilkinson, D.S., Knox, P.L., Chatman, J.E., Johnson, T.L. et al (2002). The clinical effectiveness of Healing Touch. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. 8(1), 33-47.
The researchers in this mixed methods design wanted to explore whether HT enhanced health. To determine enhanced health, they recorded salivary secreted immunoglobulin A (sigA), a protein in the body thought to be related to health enhancement before and after treatment, self-report levels of stress, perceptions of health enhancement and administered qualitative questionnaires. Their sample consisted of 22 clients who had never experienced HT. All of the participants experienced 3 types of conditions: no treatment, HT alone, and HT plus music and guided imagery over a period of two weeks. Statistically significant results and the review of the qualitative data support that HT enhances health through raising sigA concentrations, lowering perceptions of stress and relieving pain. The researchers suggest that the result is not the result of placebo alone.