title: The use of integrative therapies in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in shanghai, china.
abstract: Objective. To investigate the current use of integrative therapies (IT) in the treatment of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Methods. A cross-sectional, multicenter clinical epidemiological survey was conducted in 12 hospitals in Shanghai. We investigated the type and frequency of IT use and determined whether the use of IT correlated with demographic, social, or disease-specific characteristics in our patient population. Results. A total of 231 (89.5%) of 258 patients with ALS were eligible for the study and 229 (99% of all) of 231 reported the use of at least one IT for the treatment of ALS. Vitamins and Chinese herb decoctions, Chinese herb compounds, massage therapy, and acupuncture were the 5 most commonly used therapies. There was a strong association between education level, income, and use of IT. A household income of more than 75,000 RMB ($49,995) correlated with multiple IT use, and married patients used IT more often than single individuals. The main reasons for using IT were to treat weakness and fatigue, muscle atrophy, the development of ALS, depression, insomnia, limb pain or numbness, and side effects associated with Riluzole. Conclusion. The use of IT is common in patients with ALS in Shanghai. Vitamins and TCM are the most used additional therapies and the widespread and largely unexamined use of IT for ALS requires more attention.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 528 Zhangheng Road, Pudong New Area, Shanghai 201203, China.
authors.forename: Weidong
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Huashan Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, China.
authors.forename: Xiangjun
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 528 Zhangheng Road, Pudong New Area, Shanghai 201203, China.
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bao
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Putuo District Center Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200062, China.
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Bai
authors.affiliation: Center for Clinical Effectiveness Evaluation, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China.
authors.forename: Hua
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Pudong New Area Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201200, China.
authors.forename: Qiudong
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Shanghai Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200071, China.
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Longhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200030, China.
authors.forename: Canxing
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Neurology of Institute of Integrative Medicine, Zhongshan Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University, Shanghai 200093, China.
authors.forename: Wenwei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200092, China.
authors.forename: Zhenguo
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Ruijin Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200025, China.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 528 Zhangheng Road, Pudong New Area, Shanghai 201203, China.
authors.forename: Xuying
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 528 Zhangheng Road, Pudong New Area, Shanghai 201203, China.
authors.forename: Baofeng
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Qin
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 528 Zhangheng Road, Pudong New Area, Shanghai 201203, China ; Laboratory for Neurology of Institute of Integrative Medicine, Zhongshan Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University, Shanghai 200093, China.
authors.forename: Dingfang
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China.
authors.forename: Hua
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhou