The use of complementary and alternative therapies to treat anxiety and depression in the United States

Objective: This study presents data on the use of complementary and alterna tive therapies to treat anxiety and depression in the United States. Method: The data came from a nationally representative survey of 2,055 resp ondents (1997-1998) that obtained information on the use of 24 complementar y and alternative therapies for the treatment of specific chronic condition s. Results: A total of 9.4% of the respondents reported suffering from "anxiet y attacks" in the past 12 months; 7.2% reported "severe depression." A tota l of 56.7% of those with anxiety attacks and 53.6% of those with severe dep ression reported using complementary and alternative therapies to treat the se conditions during the past 12 months. Only 20.0% of those with anxiety a ttacks and 19.3% of those with severe depression visited a complementary or alternative therapist. A total of 65.9% of the respondents seen by a conve ntional provider for anxiety attacks and 66.7% of those seen by a conventio nal provider for severe depression also used complementary and alternative therapies to treat these conditions. The perceived helpfulness of these the rapies in treating anxiety and depression was similar to that of convention al therapies. Conclusions: Complementary and alternative therapies are used more than con ventional therapies by people with self-defined anxiety attacks and severe depression. Most patients visiting conventional mental health providers for these problems also use complementary and alternative therapies. Use of th ese therapies will likely increase as insurance coverage expands. Asking pa tients about their use could prevent adverse effects and maximize the usefu lness of therapies subsequently proven to be effective.