Mental Disorders and the Use of Alternative Medicine: Results From a National Survey

2000290 citationsJournal Article

Authors

Jürgen Unützer · Neuropsychiatric Research Institute

Ruth Klap · University of California, Los Angeles

Roland Sturm · University of California, Los Angeles

Alexander S. Young · University of California, Los Angeles

Tonya Marmon · University of California, Los Angeles

Jess P. Shatkin · University of California, Los Angeles

Kenneth B. Wells

Abstract

We found relatively high rates of use of complementary and alternative medicine among respondents who met criteria for common mental disorders. Practitioners of alternative medicine should look for these disorders in their patients, and conventional medical providers should ask their depressed and anxious patients about the use of alternative medicine. More research is needed to determine if individuals with mental disorders use alternative medicine because conventional medical care does not meet their health care needs.

Topics & Keywords

Complementary and Alternative Medicine Studies Medicinal Plant Extracts Effects Psychosomatic Disorders and Their Treatments

UN Sustainable Development Goals

Good health and well-being

Publication Details

Published in: American Journal of Psychiatry

Volume 157, Issue 11, pp. 1851-1857

DOI: 10.1176/appi.ajp.157.11.1851

Field-Weighted Citation Impact: 16.20