Use of mental health services and  complementary and alternative medicine in  persons with common mental disorders.
OBJECTIVE
Few studies investigated the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) by subjects with mental disorders. We examined the relationship between depressive, anxiety and alcohol-use disorders and their comorbidity, as well as the relationship between use of CAM and use of mental health services.


METHODS
The Finnish adult (> or =30 years) population-based Health 2000 Study (n = 5987) collected information on use of CAM plus health and mental health care services.


RESULTS
Generalised anxiety disorder and panic disorder were positively associated and alcohol abuse was negatively associated with use of CAM. The prevalence was highest in persons with comorbidity of anxiety and depressive disorders. The use or perceived usefulness of mental health services did not differ between CAM users and other participants.


CONCLUSIONS
The relationship between the use of CAM and mental disorders appears to vary depending on the type of mental disorder. Use of CAM seems unrelated to the use and the perceived usefulness of mental health services.
Wahlström
M
M
National Research and Development Centre for Welfare and Health (STAKES) , Helsinki, Finland.
Sihvo
S
S
Haukkala
A
A
Kiviruusu
O
O
Pirkola
S
S
Isometsä
E
E
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D015897:Comorbidity; D000529:Complementary Therapies / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D006302:Health Services Research / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D014600:Utilization Review / Q000706:statistics & numerical data