Clinical trial: the effect of Johrei on symptoms of patients with functional chest pain A. GASIOROWSKA, T. NAVARRO-RODRIGUEZ, R. DICKMAN, C. WENDEL, B. MOTY, J. POWERS, M. R. WILLIS, K. KOENIG, Y. IBUKI, H. THAI & R. FASS The Neuroenteric Clinical Research Group, Section of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Southern Arizona VA Health Care System and University of Arizona Health Sciences Center, Tucson, AZ, USA Correspondence to: Dr R. Fass, The Neuroenteric Clinical Research Group, Department of Medicine, University of Arizona, Southern Arizona VA Health Care System, GI Section (1-111G-1), 601 S. 6th Avenue, Tucson, AZ 85723-0001, USA. E-mail: ronnie.fass@va.gov Publication data Submitted date 19 August 2008 First decision date 16 September 2008 Resubmission date 18 September 2008 Accepted date 20 September 2008 Epub Accepted Article 3 October 2008 SUMMARY Background Patients with functional chest pain (FCP) represent a therapeutic chal- lenge for practising physicians. Aim To determine the efficacy of Johrei as compared to wait-list in improv- ing symptoms of FCP patients. Methods Patients with chest pain of noncardiac origin for at least 3 months were enrolled into the study. All patients had to have negative upper endos- copy, pH testing and oesophageal manometry prior to randomization. Subsequently, patients were randomized to either Johrei or wait-list control. Patients received 18 Johrei sessions from a Johrei practitioner for 6 weeks. Results A total of 21 FCP patients enrolled into the Johrei group and 18 into the wait-list group. There was no difference in symptom intensity score between Johrei group and wait-list group at baseline (20.28 vs. 23.06, P = N.S.). However, there was a significant pre- and post-treatment reduction in symptom intensity in the Johrei group (20.28 vs. 7.0, P = 0.0023). There was no significant reduction in symptom intensity score between baseline and at the end of the study in the wait-list group (23.06 vs. 20.69, P = N.S.). Conclusion This pilot study shows that Johrei may have a role in improving FCP symptoms; however, future studies are needed to compare Johrei treat- ment with sham Johrei or supportive care. Aliment Pharmacol Ther 29, 126–134 Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics 126 ª 2008 The Authors Journal compilation ª 2008 Blackwell Publishing Ltd doi:10.1111/j.1365-2036.2008.03859.x