Complementary alternative medicine use among Chinese Americans: findings from a community mental health service population.
OBJECTIVE
Complementary alternative medicine use among Asian Americans is widespread, yet poorly understood. This study explored its use among Chinese Americans reporting mental health symptoms.


METHODS
A cross-sectional survey determined the prevalence and correlates of complementary alternative medicine use in an urban sample seen at a community mental health service.


RESULTS
Out of 153 Chinese-American patients, 126 (82%) reported current use of complementary therapies (megavitamin therapy, 46%; herbal medicine, 43%; massage, acupuncture, and spiritual healing, about 25% each). Compared with nonusers, users were older, female, employed, less well functioning physically, and less acculturated.


CONCLUSIONS
Growing immigrant populations and increasing mental health services consumption by members of ethnic-racial groups in the United States call for more attention to complementary alternative medicine use and its potential to aid conventional medical and mental services delivery.
Fang
Lin
L
Columbia University School of Social Work, 1255 Amsterdam Ave., New York, NY 10027, USA. lf2057@columbia.edu
Schinke
Steven P
SP
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001213:Asian / Q000523:psychology*; D002681:China / Q000208:ethnology; D003156:Community Mental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000529:Complementary Therapies / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000208:ethnology*; D015995:Prevalence; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology