title: Complementary and alternative medicine for victims of intimate partner abuse: a systematic review of use and efficacy.
abstract: Objectives. To examine: (i) the extent to which victims of intimate partner abuse (IPA) use complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) and (ii) the effects of CAM on their mental health. Methods. Medline, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched for studies measuring the extent of CAM use amongst victims of IPA and trials assessing the impact of CAM on mental health amongst this population. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane collaboration tool. Results. No studies measuring the level of CAM use amongst IPA victims, and only three studies assessing the effect of CAM on the mental health of this population were identified. Two studies looked at yogic breathing, while one assessed the effect of music therapy. All three studies showed some beneficial effects; however, each had a small sample, brief intervention period, and no follow-up measurement and were considered to be at high risk of bias. Conclusions. The review found little evidence for the benefits of CAM for IPA victims. Findings suggest positive effects of music therapy and yogic breathing; however, methodological limitations mean that these results should be interpreted with caution. It is important that more research into the use and effects of CAM amongst this population are undertaken.
authors: Research Centre for Gender, Health and Ageing, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia.
authors: Luke
authors: 0000-0002-9739-6173
authors: L
authors: Duffy
authors: Faculty of Health, University of Technology, Sydney, NSW 2007, Australia.
authors: Jon
authors: J
authors: Adams
authors: Faculty of Health, University of Technology, Sydney, NSW 2007, Australia.
authors: David
authors: 0000-0003-3561-9447
authors: D
authors: Sibbritt
authors: Research Centre for Gender, Health and Ageing, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia.
authors: Deborah
authors: D
authors: Loxton