title: Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine among adult patients for depression in Taiwan.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, I-Shou University, No. 8, Yida Rd., Yanchao Township, Kaohsiung County 82445, Taiwan. hsu88@isu.edu.tw
authors.forename: Mei-Chi
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: Debra
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Creedy
authors.forename: Wendy
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Moyle
authors.forename: Lorraine
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Venturato
authors.forename: Shiow-Luan
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Tsay
authors.forename: Wen-Chen
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Ouyang
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents