HERBAL REMEDIES IN PSYCHIATRIC PRACTICE

Patients' use of alternative and complementary health services has cre ated a need for physicians to become informed about the current litera ture regarding these treatments. Herbal remedies may be encountered in psychiatric practice when they are used to treat psychiatric symptoms ; produce changes in mood, thinking, or behavior as a side effect; or interact with psychiatric medications. English-language articles and t ranslated abstracts or articles (where available) found on MEDLINE and sources from the alternative/complementary health field were reviewed . Each herb was assessed for its safety, side effects, drug interactio ns, and efficacy in treating target symptoms or diagnoses, A synopsis of the information available for each herb is presented. In many cases the quantity and quality of data were insufficient to make definitive conclusions about efficacy or safety. However, there was good evidenc e for the efficacy of St John's wort for the treatment of depression a nd for ginkgo in the treatment of memory impairment caused by dementia . More research is required for most of the herbs reviewed, but the in formation published to date is still of clinical interest in diagnosin g, counseling, and treating patients who may be taking botanical remed ies.