title: Complementary alternative medicine use among Chinese Americans: findings from a community mental health service population.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Columbia University School of Social Work, 1255 Amsterdam Ave., New York, NY 10027, USA. lf2057@columbia.edu
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.forename: Steven P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Schinke
mesh_terms: 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