title: Concurrent herb-prescription medication use and health care provider disclosure among university students.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the extent to which college students are intermixing mood-altering herbs with prescription medications and whether they are disclosing this information to their health care providers.
  
  
  METHODS
  A nonrandom sample was drawn from the student body of a Northwestern state university (n=305).
  
  
  METHODS
  In November 2008 participants completed an online survey detailing herb use, disclosure to health care providers and herb/medicinal intermixing.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no demographic differences between herb users and non-users. Most herb usage was self-prescribed (60%) and undisclosed to healthcare providers (only 25% of herb users disclosed to a healthcare provider). 34% of herb users used them to treat a mood disorder. Of herb users, 13% had simultaneously used herbs and prescription medication in the last year. In addition, herb users who intermixed herbs with prescription medications had higher depression and anxiety scores than those who did not intermix.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  College student herb use is primarily self prescribed and undisclosed to healthcare professionals, who may prescribe pharmaceuticals that interact negatively with herbals. Physician awareness and query is invaluable for the prevention of adverse herb and drug interactions.
authors.affiliation: Boise State University, Department of Psychology, 1910 University Drive, Boise, ID 83725, United States.
authors.forename: Cindy E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: McCrea
authors.forename: Mary E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Pritchard
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D030881:Disclosure / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D041743:Herb-Drug Interactions; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D055553:Prescription Drugs; D012651:Self Medication / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D057566:Self Report; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D055553:Prescription Drugs