Use of mental health services and complementary and alternative medicine in persons with common mental disorders

Abstract

The relationship between the use of CAM and mental disorders appears to vary depending on the type of mental disorder. Use of CAM seems unrelated to the use and the perceived usefulness of mental health services.

Health-seeking behavior, alternative medicine, and quality of life in Taiwanese panic disorder patients

“…Herbal remedies most often used for PD and other anxiety disorders in North America and Europe are single-herb preparations rather than the complex mixtures of herbs used in traditional Chinese medicine [51]. Patients are increasingly turning to CAM therapies for depression, anxiety or other mental disorders [31][32][33].The present study showed that CAM therapies may be adjunctive rather than primary therapy. Together, the popularity of CAM therapies and stigmatization of psychiatric disorders in Taiwan contribute to delaying psychiatric care.…”

“…CAM includes a broad range of health resources across all health systems, modalities, and practices; CAM therapies are generally self-defined by their users and are believed by users to prevent illness and to promote health and well-being [33]. The most common alternative therapy used by American patients is chiropractic, followed by massage therapy, herbal remedies, spiritual practices, nutritional advice, meditation, homeopathy, hypnosis, and biofeedback [44].…”

“…The number of patients using complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapies to treat depression is increasing and nearly 40% of depressed patients use CAM therapies without telling their family physicians [30]. CAM use is also common among patients with anxiety or mental disorders [31,32], but evidence for efficacy of certain CAM therapies is either limited or unknown [33]. CAM use remains widespread in Asia as exemplified by its use among the culttirally diverse four million residents of Singapore (i.e., Chinese 77%, Malay 14%, Indian 8%, other 1%) [34].…”

Anthroposophic Therapy for Anxiety Disorders: A Two-year Prospective Cohort Study in Routine Outpatient Settings

“…[3][4][5][6][7][8] Not all patients with anxiety disorders benefit from conventional therapy; even under the optimum conditions of a clinical trial 20%-60% of patients will not respond to psychotherapy or anti-anxiety medications. [9][10][11][12][13] Up to one-half of patients with anxiety symptoms use complementary therapies, 14,15 sometimes provided by their physicians.…”

Medicinal Properties of <i>Clinacanthus nutans</i>: A review

“…It encompasses a wide range of practices, knowledge and treatments which are not related to modern medical profession. These include massage therapy, acupuncture, chiropractic and herbal foods [1][2][3][4][5][6]. Countries in which CAM is widely used include Southeast Asia, United States, United Kingdom and Australia [7].…”