The Effects of Core Shamanism in Fibromyalgia

NCT ID: NCT06579261

Last Updated: 2026-01-23

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: RECRUITING
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 25 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2024-08-01
• Study Completion Date: 2026-05-31

Brief Summary

This study aims to determine the feasibility of a shamanism intervention for patients with fibromyalgia, acquire efficacy data to determine if Shamanism reduces clinical pain and other common symptoms associated with fibromyalgia, and determine if the Shamanism intervention changes heart rate electrocardiogram (ECG), breathing rate, and brain wave electroencephalogram (EEG) outcomes in fibromyalgia patients and shamanic practitioners.

The investigators hypothesize that 80% of individuals will complete at least 80% of study visits, clinical pain severity and/or interference will be significantly reduced following the Shamanic intervention, and lung, heart, and/or brain activity will be altered with the Shamanic intervention and also become more synchronized between Shamanic Practitioners (SPs) and patients during the course of treatment.

Detailed Description

This study includes an 8-week long intervention, with 5 one-on-one treatment sessions with Fibromyalgia (FM) participants and shamanic practitioners (SPs). During each treatment session the FM participant will listen to classical music first as a control, followed by drumming music (4-7 beats/sec) for 15-30 minutes with the SP and a debrief session. The SP will employ the structure and principles of "Core Shamanism" as developed by Michael Harner. The first and last treatment sessions will include EEG measurements of both the patient and practitioner, while all sessions will have ECG and breathing rate for both patient and practitioner.

Pre screening questionnaires will be administered prior to shamanic treatments to ensure patients and SPs meet study inclusion criteria and give consent to the intervention. Following consent, pre and post treatment questionnaires will be administered to patient and SP participants to capture symptoms of fibromyalgia and treatment related experiences.

1-, 3-, and 6-month followup visits will involve the same questionnaires being administered and recorded to assess durability of treatment response.

Conditions

Fibromyalgia

Study Design

• Allocation Method: NA
• Intervention Model: SINGLE_GROUP
• Primary Study Purpose: OTHER
• Blinding Strategy: NONE

Study Groups

Fibromyalgia participants - Shamanic Intervention

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Core Shamanism

Intervention Type: OTHER

Each Shamanic intervention session, led by the shamanic practitioner, will include classical music as a control, followed by repetitive drumming and/or rattling music which the participant and shamanic practitioner will listen to for 15-30 mins. Following listening to drumming, the patient will then talk with the shamanic practitioner to debrief the experience of each session. Participants will also listen to classical music as a control stimulus.

Interventions

Core Shamanism

Each Shamanic intervention session, led by the shamanic practitioner, will include classical music as a control, followed by repetitive drumming and/or rattling music which the participant and shamanic practitioner will listen to for 15-30 mins. Following listening to drumming, the patient will then talk with the shamanic practitioner to debrief the experience of each session. Participants will also listen to classical music as a control stimulus.

Intervention Type: OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Female
• Over 18 and under 75 years of age.
• Fibromyalgia patients and satisfies the 2016 Fibromyalgia Diagnostic Criteria for the classification of FM.
• Mean recalled pain over the last seven days (7-day recall) greater than or equal to 4 on a 10 cm Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for pain; 7-day recall.
• Willing to limit the introduction of any new medications or treatment modalities for control of FM symptoms during the study.
• Able to travel to the study site to receive shamanic treatments up to twice weekly.
• Understanding and willing to complete all study procedures.
• Capable of giving written informed consent.
• Proficient ability to speak, read, and write in english.

Exclusion Criteria

• Presence of a concurrent autoimmune or inflammatory disease such as rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, inflammatory bowel disease, etc. that causes pain.
• History of head injury with substantial loss of consciousness
• Peripheral neuropathy of known cause that interferes with activities of daily living.
• Routine daily use of opioid analgesics, marijuana, or history of substance abuse.
• Stimulant medications, such as those used to treat Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD)/Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). (e.g., amphetamine/ dextroamphetamine [Adderall®], methylphenidate, dextroamphetamine), or the fatigue associated with sleep apnea or shift work (e.g., modafinil), are excluded.
• Concurrent participation in other therapeutic trials.
• Use of as needed (PRN) over the counter (OTC) pain medications (Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), etc.) on day of electroencephalogram (EEG) testing.
• Use of PRN opioid analgesics 48 hours prior to electroencephalogram (EEG) testing.
• Pregnant or nursing. A pregnancy test will be given prior to electroencephalogram (EEG) sessions.
• Severe psychiatric illnesses (current schizophrenia, major depression with suicidal ideation, substance abuse within two years).
• Contraindications to EEG methods. These may include but are not limited to: surgical clips, surgical staples, metal implants, and certain metallic dental material.
• Any impairment, activity or situation that is in the judgment of the Study Coordinator or Principal Investigator that would prevent satisfactory completion of the study protocol. This includes unreliable, or inconsistent pain scores as deemed by the principal investigator.
• Sufficient knowledge of Shamanism techniques that may bias participant outcomes.
• Presence of factors that may preclude the safe use of the Shamanism intervention.
• History vascular surgery in lower limbs or current lower limb vascular dysfunction.
• Presence of uncontrolled cardiovascular disease.
• Subjects with Worker's Compensation, Workman's Compensation, civil litigation or disability claims pertinent to the subject's fibromyalgia; current involvement in out-of-court settlements for claims pertinent to the subject's fibromyalgia; or currently receiving monetary compensation as a result of any of the above.
• Inability or unwillingness of an individual to give written informed consent.

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 75 Years
• Eligible Sex: FEMALE
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

University of California, Irvine

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Richard Edmund Harris

Samueli Endowed Chair and Professor

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Richard E Richard, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

UCI SSIHI

Locations

Susan Samueli Integrative Health Institute

Irvine, California, United States

Site Status: RECRUITING

Countries

United States

Central Contacts

University of California, Irvine Susan Samueli Integrative Health Institute

Role: CONTACT

ssihi@hs.uci.edu

949-824-7000

Facility Contacts

Huiyi Bao, B.S., B.A.

Role: primary

huiyib@uci.edu

949-824-7000

Ahmad Mahan

Role: backup

amahan1@hs.uci.edu

9493853299

Other Identifiers

3326

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id