title: Complementary and alternative medicine in VA specialized PTSD treatment programs.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This survey documented the provision of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) treatments in U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) specialized posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) treatment programs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Program coordinators or designated staff from 125 of 170 VA specialized PTSD treatment programs completed and returned surveys between September 2010 and March 2011, indicating which of 32 CAM treatments were offered in that program.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ninety-six percent of programs reported use of at least one CAM treatment. Eighty-eight percent offered CAMs other than those that are commonly part of conventional PTSD treatments (guided imagery, progressive muscle relaxation, and stress management-relaxation therapies).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The widespread use of CAM treatments in VA PTSD programs presents an opportunity for researchers to assess the effect of CAM on mental health service use and PTSD symptoms among veterans. Future research should assess the effectiveness of CAM treatments and develop methods to tailor these treatments to veterans with PTSD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, 300 George St, Suite 901, New Haven, CT 06511, USA. danieljlibby@gmail.com
authors.forename: Daniel J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Libby
authors.forename: Corey Elizabeth
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Pilver
authors.forename: Rani
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Desai
mesh_terms: D000529:Complementary Therapies / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000628:therapy*; D014481:United States; D014493:United States Department of Veterans Affairs; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology