270098 Use of Alternative and Complementary Therapies in Population with Depressive and Anxiety Disorders: Results of a Survey in Mexico City

Sunday, October 28, 2012

Shoshana Berenzon , Direction of Psychosocial and Epidemiology research, National Institute of Psychiatry of México, Mexico, Mexico
International literature reports the growing use of alternative and/or complementary medicines by persons with emotional disorders, particularly depression or anxiety. The aim of this study is therefore to determine the therapeutic resources used by the population to treat emotional problems and to analyze the prevalence of these practices in persons with anxiety or depressive disorders. The study was conducted on the inhabitants of six neighborhoods in Mexico City. They were all selected on the basis of the criteria established in a multi-stage, stratified random sample design. The diagnoses of mental disorders were obtained on the basis of the ICD-10 criteria. For the analysis of service use, the therapies were grouped into two categories, self care (home remedies, self-medication, physical activities, etc.) and alternative and/or complementary services (self-help groups, traditional Mexican medicine, clergy, etc.). Results: 19.2% of the sample met the diagnostic criteria for one or more disorders at least once in their lifetime. An analysis of the disorders, divided into two main groups, anxiety disorder and depressive episodes, showed that the prevalence of self-care practices are 76.6% in people with anxiety disorders and 72.7% with depressive episodes. The use of alternative medicines (53.2% and 59.1%) was similar. The logistic regression analysis showed that the probability of using self-care practices is higher in persons with an anxiety disorder (OR=3.11), women (OR=1.74) and persons with major educational level (OR=1.93). The likelihood of using an alternative or complementary medicine increases among people experiencing a depressive episode (OR=3.23) and anxiety disorders (OR=3.45).

Learning Areas:
Diversity and culture
Other professions or practice related to public health
Public health or related public policy
Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
1)Develop a register of complementary and alternative practices are used to care for depressive and anxiety disorders. 2)Identify the percentage of the population using these practices, which are the most frequently and what type of problem 3)Describe the costs of using alternative/complementary services for the depressive and anxiety disorders.

Keywords: Alternative Medicine/Therapies, Mental Disorders

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have experience in developing assessments of mental health services using both qualitative and quantitative methodologies. I have participated in several national and international projects that have evaluated the prevalence of mental disorders, service utilization and care needs. I have received funding to conduct a qualitative research to assess the trajectory of care for people with mental disorders. I am participating in the different international group projects and produce several peer-reviewed publications
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.