Complementary and alternative medicine contacts by persons with mental disorders in 25 countries: results from the World Mental Health Surveys

A substantial proportion of persons with mental disorders seek treatment from complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) professionals. Those contacts are common in persons with severe mental disorders, in high-income countries, and in persons receiving conventional care. There is no indication that persons were less satisfied by CAM visits than by receiving conventional care. Researchers encourage health care professionals in conventional settings to openly discuss the care patients are receiving, whether conventional or not, and their reasons for doing so.

These findings, based the World Mental Health Surveys, are published in Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences.

The study was led by Prof. Dr. Peter de Jonge, Professor of Developmental Psychology at the University of Groningen.

De Jonge, P., Wardenaar, K., Hoenders, H., Evans-Lacko, S., Kovess-Masfety, V., Aguilar-Gaxiola, S., . . . Thornicroft, G. (2017). Complementary and alternative medicine contacts by persons with mental disorders in 25 countries: Results from the World Mental Health Surveys. Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences, 1-16. doi:10.1017/S2045796017000774

More information:

• Prof. dr. P. (Peter) de Jonge
• Article: Complementary and alternative medicine contacts by persons with mental disorders in 25 countries: Results from the World Mental Health Surveys