In New Scientist for November 13, 1999, is a report suggesting that organised prayer may assist recovery from illness, even in circumstances where the patient is unaware that he or she is being prayed for. This is an interesting aspect of prayer, which is often considered to derive its efficacy from the fact that the person praying is achieving a powerful concentration of mind in the process, which may therefore have incalculable results.
A double-blind study was performed in a hospital in Kansas City, Missouri, on a group of patients who were enrolled in a coronary care unit over a period of 12 months. As they were admitted, patients received a record number, and those with even numbers were prayed for, unknown to themselves, by members of a volunteer Christian body who were given only the individual's first name, and not his or her enrolment number.
Variables measured during the trial included degree of fever and whether or not antibiotic therapy was being given. The outcome in 466 patients who were the subjects of prayer was significantly better than that in the 524 others who acted as controls.
Criticism has been raised over the possibility of bias in the assessment of results in such a trial, if there is any possibility that the confidentiality of the numbering system can be breached. It has also been suggested that a similar study might be undertaken using as subjects and investigators members of an organisation which is by definition sceptical on the subject of paranormal phenomena.