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The Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) in Psychiatric Units in Sweden

Wemrell, Maria LU orcid ; Olsson, Anna LU and Landgren, Kajsa LU (2020) In Issues in Mental Health Nursing 41(10). p.946-957
Abstract

Mental ill-health has been termed the pandemic of the 21st century, and a large share of those exposed do not receive treatment. Many people with depression, anxiety and other mental health problems consult complementary or alternative medicine (CAM), and CAM is used in conventional psychiatric care, in Sweden and in other countries. However, the extent to which CAM is used in psychiatric care, and for what purposes, are largely unknown. This study is based on a survey distributed to all heads of regional, municipal, private and governmental health care units treating persons with psychiatric symptoms across Sweden in 2019. CAM was reportedly used by 62% of the 489 responding health care units, for symptoms including anxiety,... (More)

Mental ill-health has been termed the pandemic of the 21st century, and a large share of those exposed do not receive treatment. Many people with depression, anxiety and other mental health problems consult complementary or alternative medicine (CAM), and CAM is used in conventional psychiatric care, in Sweden and in other countries. However, the extent to which CAM is used in psychiatric care, and for what purposes, are largely unknown. This study is based on a survey distributed to all heads of regional, municipal, private and governmental health care units treating persons with psychiatric symptoms across Sweden in 2019. CAM was reportedly used by 62% of the 489 responding health care units, for symptoms including anxiety, sleep disturbances and depression. Main motivations for CAM use were symptom relief, meeting patients’ requests and reduced demand for pharmaceutical medication. Very few respondents reported side effects. The most common reason for interrupting CAM use at a unit was a lack of trained professionals. This study confirms the need for further research about CAM, and for CAM education and training among healthcare professionals.

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author
; and
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publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Issues in Mental Health Nursing
volume
41
issue
10
pages
12 pages
publisher
Taylor & Francis
external identifiers
  • scopus:85086862462
  • pmid:32497455
ISSN
0161-2840
DOI
10.1080/01612840.2020.1744203
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
49a7f9cd-3dbf-415b-993c-ae79ae44c6b5
date added to LUP
2020-07-10 10:30:10
date last changed
2024-04-17 11:58:22
@article{49a7f9cd-3dbf-415b-993c-ae79ae44c6b5,
  abstract     = {{<p>Mental ill-health has been termed the pandemic of the 21<sup>st</sup> century, and a large share of those exposed do not receive treatment. Many people with depression, anxiety and other mental health problems consult complementary or alternative medicine (CAM), and CAM is used in conventional psychiatric care, in Sweden and in other countries. However, the extent to which CAM is used in psychiatric care, and for what purposes, are largely unknown. This study is based on a survey distributed to all heads of regional, municipal, private and governmental health care units treating persons with psychiatric symptoms across Sweden in 2019. CAM was reportedly used by 62% of the 489 responding health care units, for symptoms including anxiety, sleep disturbances and depression. Main motivations for CAM use were symptom relief, meeting patients’ requests and reduced demand for pharmaceutical medication. Very few respondents reported side effects. The most common reason for interrupting CAM use at a unit was a lack of trained professionals. This study confirms the need for further research about CAM, and for CAM education and training among healthcare professionals.</p>}},
  author       = {{Wemrell, Maria and Olsson, Anna and Landgren, Kajsa}},
  issn         = {{0161-2840}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{06}},
  number       = {{10}},
  pages        = {{946--957}},
  publisher    = {{Taylor & Francis}},
  series       = {{Issues in Mental Health Nursing}},
  title        = {{The Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) in Psychiatric Units in Sweden}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/01612840.2020.1744203}},
  doi          = {{10.1080/01612840.2020.1744203}},
  volume       = {{41}},
  year         = {{2020}},
}