title: Traditional Chinese medicine for schizophrenia: A survey of randomized trials.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To survey the reports of randomized trials of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) interventions for schizophrenia and produce a broad overview of this type of research activity in this area.
  
  
  METHODS
  We searched the Cochrane Schizophrenia Group's comprehensive Trials Register (January 2016), selected all relevant randomized trials, and extracted the data within each study. Finally, we sought relevant reviews on the Cochrane Library.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We initially screened 423 articles from which we identified 378 relevant studies randomizing 35 341 participants (average study size 94, SD 60). There were 7 herbs used as single medicine, 4 compositions or extractions, more than 144 herbal mixes, and 7 TCM principles reported for schizophrenia. Nonpharmacological interventions of TCM included acupuncture and exercise. The most commonly evaluated treatments are Ginkgo biloba, acupuncture, Wendan decoction, and Shugan Jieyu Capsule. There are 3 directly relevant Cochrane reviews.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Most treatment approaches-and some in common use-have only one or two relevant small trials. Some coordination of effort would help ensure that further well-designed appropriately sized randomized trials are conducted. Systematic reviews should be performed in this field but with titles that take into account the complexity of TCM.
authors.affiliation: Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Hongyong
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6438-198X
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.affiliation: Cochrane Schizophrenia Group, Institute of Mental Health, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK.
authors.forename: Clive E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Adams
mesh_terms: D015670:Acupuncture Therapy; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D006801:Humans; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional; D008517:Phytotherapy; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: intervention; randomized trial; schizophrenia; survey; traditional Chinese medicine