Recently (October 2008) I became involved in an exciting research study at the University of Southern Maine.  A Reiki student of mine, who is an associate professor at USM, received a grant to study the therapeutic effects of Reiki on patients, age 60 years and over, who suffer from anxiety and depression and/or pain.  The subjects were carefully screened, and then they answered questionnaires to determine their levels of anxiety, depression and pain prior to starting the study.  Each Reiki practitioner (master/teacher level) met with the same subjects every week and gave 30 minutes of Reiki to each subject once a week for 8 weeks.  At the end of the 8 weeks, each subject was interviewed again to determine any change in level of anxiety, depression or pain.  At every visit each of the subjects had his or her blood pressure and pulse recorded before and after the Reiki session as well as his level of pain.  The study is still underway even though my part in the research is over.  I got so much positive feedback from the subjects that I had the privilege of working with for 8 weeks that I am already convinced of the therapeutic effects of Reiki.  I now eagerly await the tabulated results of this research study to be published.