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Research: PELLEGRINI and RUGGERI,
Listed in Issue 150
Abstract
PELLEGRINI and RUGGERI, Dipartimento di Medicina e Sanita Pubblica, Sezione di Psichiatria e Psicologia Clinica, Universita di Verona, WHO Collaborating Centre for Research and Training in Mental Health and Service Evaluation, Italy, have systematically reviewed (79 references) the use of CAM therapies among users of mental health services.
Background
The aim of this study was to conduct a systematic review of the studies on use of alternative and complementary medicine by mental health services’ users, in order to investigate the prevalence and motivations of CAM used to treat mental disorders.
Methodology
This paper shows a part of the results of a literature review, limited to studies between 1966 and 2005, was carried out using Ovid Medline, PsycINFO and EBM Reviews databases. This was supplemented by hand searching of reference lists.
Results
91 studies on CAM’s use by psychiatric patients were analyzed. In this paper the 25 articles about the prevalence of CAM use and user’s motivations are described. The use of CAM therapies varies across countries: data suggest that from 50% to 80% of people suffering of mental disorders use CAM. Heterogeneous methods, samples and results characterizing the studies make generalization of results difficult. Patients’ motivations for CAM use were poorly investigated, however it seems that persons affected by mental disorders use CAM mostly because they are dissatisfied with conventional medicine and/or because these alternatives approaches are congruent with their own values, beliefs and philosophical orientation.
Conclusion
The motivations for CAM use underline the relevance of patients’ holistic conception and the therapeutic role of a patient-physician relationship based on empathy. It seems important to investigate further psychological and social aspects that influence patients’ choice to use CAM.
References
Pellegrini N, Ruggeri M. The diffusion and the reason for the use of complementary and alternative medicine among users of mental health services: a systematic review of literature. Epidemiologia e Psichiatria Sociale 16 (1): 35-49, Jan-Mar 2007.
