Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine among adult patients for depression in Taiwan.
BACKGROUND
This descriptive exploratory study investigated the prevalence and type of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) use among older Taiwanese patients with a diagnosis of depression.


METHODS
Self-report questionnaire.


RESULTS
A convenience sample of 206 in-patients (98% response rate) completed the survey. Nearly 70% (69.9%) reported using at least one form of CAM in the past 12 months. Twenty-one kinds of CAM were identified in the treatment of depression, the most common being herbal medicines, spiritual healing, and folk remedies. Only one-third (35.4%, n=73) had discussed CAM use with their psychiatrists. Participants with mild to moderate depression tended to use more CAM than participants with severe depression (GDS-SF: Cramer's V=-.233; HDRS: Cramer's V=.201).


CONCLUSIONS
This study confirms the high prevalence of CAM use among older adults with a diagnosis of depression in Taiwan. The popularity of CAM appears to be a consequence of people's preference for a more holistic approach to health care. CAM use needs to be explicitly discussed between patients and health professionals as part of ongoing assessment, patient education and management.
Hsu
Mei-Chi
MC
Department of Nursing, I-Shou University, No. 8, Yida Rd., Yanchao Township, Kaohsiung County 82445, Taiwan. hsu88@isu.edu.tw
Creedy
Debra
D
Moyle
Wendy
W
Venturato
Lorraine
L
Tsay
Shiow-Luan
SL
Ouyang
Wen-Chen
WC
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D044466:Asian People / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D000529:Complementary Therapies / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006694:Holistic Health; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology
D000928:Antidepressive Agents