title: The use of complementary and alternative therapies and of psychotherapy by Romanian patients with irritable bowel syndrome.
abstract: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is an invalidating condition, lacking a perfect therapy. Therefore, many patients use also complementary and alternative therapies (CAT) or psychotherapy (PT). There are no data on the use of CAT and PT in IBS in our area. We looked for this until uncovered aspect of IBS management in Romania.
  
  
  METHODS
  250 consecutive patients with IBS (142 F/108M, aged 49 +/- 12 years) referred to a tertiary gastroenterological center were questioned about the use of CAT and PT using a structured specially developed questionnaire. All of the patients accepted to answer the questionnaire after careful instruction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  162 out of 250 pts (64%) admitted to have used one or more CAT, usually together with pharmacological prescriptions. Among CAT users, 32 patients (20%) used only CAT and not allopathic drugs. CAT used were: homeopathy 13%, herbal therapy 72%, acupuncture 3%, bioenergetic resonance 11%, others 13%. Probiotics were used by 30%. Users were mainly females of lower educational levels. Psychotherapy was used by 30 pts (12%). 25 (10%) used CBT, 15 (6%) used relaxation therapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The majority of IBS pts. in our area use CAT usually in association with allopathic therapy. The most frequently used are herbal prescriptions followed by probiotics. PT less frequently used in our IBS patients.
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Dumitraşcu
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Nedelcu
authors.forename: Sorina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pop
authors.forename: Teodora
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Blaga-Surdea
authors.forename: R T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Dadu
authors.forename: Simona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Costin
authors.forename: Manuela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Popescu
authors.forename: Alina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Picos
authors.forename: Liliana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: David
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000529:Complementary Therapies / Q000379:methods*; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D043183:Irritable Bowel Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000379:methods; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000379:methods; D011788:Quality of Life; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012383:Romania; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome