Use of mind-body medical therapies.
OBJECTIVE
Research demonstrating connections between the mind and body has increased interest in the potential of mind-body therapies. Our aim was to examine the use of mind-body therapies, using data available from a national survey.


METHODS
Analysis of a large nationally representative dataset that comprehensively evaluated the use of mind-body therapies in the last year.


METHODS
United States households.


METHODS
A total of 2055 American adults in 1997-1998.


METHODS
Random national telephone survey.


RESULTS
We obtained a 60% weighted overall response rate among eligible respondents. We found that 18.9% of adults had used at least 1 mind-body therapy in the last year, with 20.5% of these therapies involving visits to a mind-body professional. Meditation, imagery, and yoga were the most commonly used techniques. Factors independently and positively associated with the use of mind-body therapies in the last year were being 40 to 49 years old (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 2.03; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.33 to 3.10), being not married (AOR, 1.78; 95% CI, 1.34 to 2.36), having an educational level of college or greater (AOR, 2.21; 95% CI, 1.57 to 3.09), having used self-prayer for a medical concern (AOR, 2.53; 95% CI, 1.87 to 3.42), and having used another complementary medicine therapy in the last year (AOR, 3.77; 95% CI, 2.74 to 5.20). While used for the full array of medical conditions, they were used infrequently for chronic pain (used by 20% of those with chronic pain) and insomnia (used by 13% of those with insomnia), conditions for which consensus panels have concluded that mind-body therapies are effective. They were also used by less than 20% of those with heart disease, headaches, back or neck pain, and cancer, conditions for which there is strong research support. Mind-body therapies were generally used concomitantly with conventional care: 90% of those using a mind-body therapy in the last year had seen a physician and 80% of mind-body therapies used were discussed with a physician.


CONCLUSIONS
Although mind-body therapies were commonly used, much opportunity exists to increase use of mind-body therapies for indications with demonstrated efficacy.
Wolsko
Peter M
PM
Division for Research and Education in Complementary and Integrative Medical Therapies, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. pwolsko@hms.harvard.edu
Eisenberg
David M
DM
Davis
Roger B
RB
Phillips
Russell S
RS
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001945:Breathing Exercises; D029221:Faith Healing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D019018:Imagery, Psychotherapy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D026441:Mind-Body Therapies / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017008:Negotiating; D014481:United States; D015013:Yoga