Positive Health Online

Abstract

HONDA and JACOBSON, Department of Epidemiology, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA, h2086@columbia.edu, have looked at the relationship between the use of complementary and alternative medicine and the psychological profile of patients.

Background

The aim of this study was to examine the associations between CAM use and personality, coping strategies, and perceived social support in a representative sample of adults in the United States.

Methodology

Data were drawn from a representative sample of 3,032 adults aged 25-74. The use of acupuncture, biofeedback, chiropractic, energy healing, exercise/movement therapy, herbal medicine, high-dose megavitamins, homeopathy, hypnosis, imagery techniques, massage, prayer/spiritual practice, relaxation/meditation, and special diets was analyzed. Multiple logistic regression analyses were used to evaluate the association of personality, dispositional coping strategies (primary and secondary control), and perceived social support and strain with CAM use.

Results

Openness was positively associated with the use of all types of CAM except manipulative body-based methods. Extroversion was inversely correlated with the use of mind-body therapies. Primary control was inversely and secondary control directly correlated with the use of CAM. Perceived friend support was positively associated with the use of mind-body therapies, manipulative body-based methods, and alternative medical systems. Perceived partner strain was positively associated with the use of biologically based therapies, and family strain increased the odds of manipulative body-based methods.

Conclusion

This study is the first to shed some light on CAM users' personality traits. Understanding the relationships between psychological factors and CAM use may help researchers and health care providers to address patients' needs more effectively and to achieve better adherence to treatment recommendations.

References

Honda K, Jacobson JS. Use of complementary and alternative medicine among United States adults: the influences of personality, coping strategies, and social support. Preventive Medicine 40 (1): 46-53, Jan 2005.

Comment

Although these results regarding associations between various complementary therapies and personalities appear to be quite fascinating, I would remain reserved about drawing firm conclusions regarding their proven validity. There are probably some very practical and common-sense factors underlying people's use of various therapies, including the availability of certain practitioners in local areas with certain skills, as well as the willingness of physicians to refer patients to complementary practitioners. I am sure that PH readers can think of many other reasons behind the results discussed above.