title: Use of complementary and alternative medicine in an urban county hospital epilepsy clinic.
abstract: We examined self-reported complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use among a largely indigent population with epilepsy. Overall CAM use was 70%, with the most frequently reported complementary and alternative medicines (CAMs) being medical marijuana (33%), prayer/spirituality (31%), meditation (19%), vitamins (19%), and stress management (16%). Forty-four percent of patients reported improved seizure control with CAMs. Stress management accounted for perceived seizure reduction in 74%, followed by marijuana (54%), prayer (49%), and yoga (42%). Among the most commonly used and helpful CAMs, stress management was not associated with specific demographic or clinical variables; marijuana use was significantly associated with lower age (users=35.2±10 years vs. nonusers=41.6±12; p<0.01) and lower income (under $15,000 40% use vs. 14% over $15,000; p<0.05); and prayer was significantly associated with female gender (male=21% vs. female=45%; p<0.01) and Black ethnicity (Black=55% vs. Hispanic=30% vs. White=23%; p<0.05). Taken together, our study was notable for the high rate of CAM utilization in a largely indigent population, with high rates of perceived efficacy among several CAM modalities.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA.
authors.forename: B V
authors.initials: BV
authors.lastname: McConnell
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurology, Denver Health and Hospitals, Denver, CO, USA.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Applegate
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Denver Health and Hospitals, Denver, CO, USA.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Keniston
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kluger
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurology, Denver Health and Hospitals, Denver, CO, USA.
authors.forename: E H
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Maa
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000529:Complementary Therapies / Q000379:methods*; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D006766:Hospitals, County; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D064086:Medical Marijuana / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D012737:Sex Factors; D029181:Spirituality; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014815:Vitamins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015013:Yoga
chemical_list: D064086:Medical Marijuana; D014815:Vitamins
keywords: CAM; Complementary and alternative medicine; Epilepsy; Indigent; Marijuana; Seizure; Underserved