Association of Complementary and Alternative Therapies With Mental Health Outcomes in Pregnant Women Living in a Postdisaster Recovery Environment.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to determine if complementary and alternative medicine therapies are associated with mental health in postdisaster environments.


METHODS
Pregnant women (N = 402) were interviewed between 2010 and 2012 as part of a larger cross-sectional study on hurricane recovery and models of prenatal care.


METHODS
Symptoms of depression (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Screen), prenatal anxiety (Revised Prenatal Distress Questionnaire), posttraumatic stress (PCL-S), and perceived stress (PSS) were examined. Logistic regression was used to adjust for income, race, education, parity, and age. The most commonly reported therapies were prayer, music, multivitamins, massage, and aromatherapy.


RESULTS
Mental illness symptoms were common (30.7% had likely depression, 17.4% had anxiety, and 9.0% had posttraumatic stress). Massage was protective for depression (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Index [EDSI] >8; adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 0.6, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.3-0.9), while use of aromatherapy (aOR = 1.9, 95% CI = 1.1-3.2) and keeping a journal (aOR = 1.9, 95% CI = 1.1-3.2) were associated with increased odds of depression. Aromatherapy was associated with symptoms of pregnancy-related anxiety (aOR = 2.0, 95% CI = 1.1-3.8).


CONCLUSIONS
Symptoms of mental illness persist after disaster, when untreated. Nurses should consider assessing for complementary and alternative medicine utilization in pregnancy as a potentially protective factor for mental health symptoms.
Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine barcelonaveronica@yahoo.com.
Veronica
V
Barcelona de Mendoza
Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine.
Emily
E
Harville
Loyola University New Orleans.
Jane
J
Savage
Louisiana State University.
Gloria
G
Giarratano
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000529:Complementary Therapies / Q000379:methods*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D055867:Cyclonic Storms; D003863:Depression / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D064891:Disaster Victims / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008603:Mental Health / Q000592:standards*; D008875:Middle Aged; D055820:New Orleans; D011247:Pregnancy; D037841:Pregnant People / Q000523:psychology*; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
alternative/complementary therapies; common themes; group/population; specific conditions; trauma/posttrauma; women