title: Older adults' use of complementary and alternative medicine for mental health: findings from the 2002 National Health Interview Survey.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use among adults 65 and older with and without self-reported anxiety or depression, and to investigate the prevalence and predictors of CAM use for treatment by persons with anxiety or depression.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional survey.
  
  
  METHODS
  Computer-assisted interviews conducted in participants' homes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Subjects included 5827 adults aged 65 and older who participated in the 2002 National Health Interview Survey including the Alternative Health Supplement.
  
  
  METHODS
  None.
  
  
  METHODS
  Overall use of CAM, use of four categories of CAM, and use of 20 CAM modalities. CAM use for treatment of any health condition, and CAM use to treat mental health.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eighty-one and seven tenths percent (81.7%) of older adults with self-reported anxiety or depression who used CAM in the past year, whereas 64.6% of older adults without these conditions used CAM. Differences in CAM use were driven by elevated use of spiritual practices, relaxation techniques, and use of nonvitamin, nonmineral natural products by patients with symptoms of mental conditions. Fewer than 20% of CAM users with self-reported anxiety or depression used CAM for their mental health. Few personal and health-related factors predicted CAM use for treatment among older adults with self-reported anxiety or depression.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Older adults with self-reported anxiety or depression were more likely to use spiritual practices, relaxation techniques, and nonvitamin, nonmineral natural products than elders in good mental health. However, for the majority of older adults with self-reported anxiety or depression, CAM was used for purposes other than treating mental health.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family and Community Medicine, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27157-1084, USA. grzywacz@wfubmc.edu
authors.forename: Joseph G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Grzywacz
authors.forename: Cynthia K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Suerken
authors.forename: Sara A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Quandt
authors.forename: Ronny A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Bell
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Lang
authors.forename: Thomas A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Arcury
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001007:Anxiety / Q000517:prevention & control; D000529:Complementary Therapies / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003863:Depression / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012648:Self Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012651:Self Medication / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology