The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #46554

Wayne C. Dickey, PhD, Division of Health Interview Statistics, National Center for Health Statistics / Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 6525 Belcrest Road, Room 860, Hyattsville, MD 20782, 301-458-4156, wdickey@cdc.gov

This study investigated the relationship between use of alternative medicine and contact with mental health services among adults who screened positive for mental illness. Data were from the 1999 National Health Interview Survey. A reduced version of the Composite International Diagnostic Interview Short-Form was utilized to screen and select for three psychiatric diagnoses/outcomes (major depression, generalized anxiety disorder, and panic attack) within the past year among randomly selected adults in a nationally representative sample of U.S. households (N=2,839). Alternative medicine was defined based on twelve items inquiring about certain kinds of therapy within the past year (acupuncture, relaxation techniques, massage therapy, imagery, spiritual healing/prayer, lifestyle diets, herbal medicine, homeopathy, energy healing, biofeedback, hypnosis, and other forms of alternative therapy). The study showed that respondents who used alternative medicine were more likely to talk with or see a mental health professional and more likely to say they were unable to afford mental health care/counseling. The results showed no association between alternative medicine and talking to/seeing a general medical doctor. Among survey participants who screened positive for major depression, no association between use of alternative medicine and seeing a mental health professional specifically for major depression problems was demonstrated. However, among those who screened positive for generalized anxiety disorder, alternative medicine was associated with seeing a mental health professional for anxiety problems. Finally, alcohol/drug use to cope with major depression or anxiety problems was associated with the likelihood of seeing a mental health professional specifically for those problems.

Learning Objectives:

• Recognize that adults with mental illness are more likely to contact mental health services if they subscribe to alternative medical care.

Keywords: Mental Health Services, Alternative Medicine/Therapies

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.