Asian Pacific Journal of Nursing

A STUDY TO ASSESS THE EFFECTIVENESS OF REIKI THERAPY TO REDUCE THE LEVEL OF DEPRESSION AMONG DEPRESSIVE CLIENTS AT INSTITUTE OF MENTAL HEALTH, CHENNAI

Jayalakshmi Lakshmanan1* and P.Yamunadevi2

gopikabrij2820@gmail.com

Depressive Clients, Depression, Reiki Therapy.

Depression is the common cold of psychiatric which affects a person‘s ability and destroys the quality of life. It is treated with anti-depressants and psychotherapy. An alternative therapy can be used to reduce the depression and to improve over all wellbeing. Reiki therapy has countless benefits physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually which ensures effective care without any undue restrictions. Depression is the second leading contributor to the global burden of disease. Reiki therapy is the healing art which provides care physically, mentally, spiritually and socially to the client with countless benefits and which is cost effective. We aimed to determine the effectiveness of Reiki therapy in reducing depressive features among depressive clients by comparing pre and posttest depression scores, to find out association between post-test depression score with selected demographic variables. The samples (n=60) were assessed for the pre-existing level of depression among the depressive clients by using BDI-II scale, Reiki therapy was given to depressive clients for 30 minutes once a day for 7 consecutive days , on 8th day post-test was done by using BDI-II. The overall pre-test depression score among depressive clients were 57% whereas in post-test it was 29.9%. Depression reduction score is 27.1%. The study result revealed that Reiki therapy was effective. There was a statistical difference between pre-test and post-test levels of depression score. (P= 0.001). Depression is one of the major disorders among psychiatric illness. It can be treated with anti-depressants and alternative complementary therapy (Reiki is an emerging ancillary therapy). Reiki therapy was effective in reducing level of depression among depressive clients. Since it is cost effective and self- healing procedure it can be applied in all settings.