Alternative therapies in health and medicine
-
Altern Ther Health Med · Sep 2013
Clinical TrialTreating generalized anxiety disorder using complementary and alternative medicine.
The high comorbidity rate of generalized anxiety disorders (GADs) with other diagnoses-such as panic disorder, depression, alcohol abuse, posttraumatic stress disorder, insomnia, and obsessive compulsive disorder- make it one of the most common diagnoses found in primary care, with women predominantly affected. It is estimated that 5.4%-7.6% of primary care visits are associated with GAD and in addition to impairments in mental health there is additional impairment in pain, function, and activities of daily life, accelerating the need to reconsider the medical management of this disorder and move from the traditional medical model to a more holistic approach, focusing on self-care. ⋯ The findings in this pilot study suggest multimodal interventions focusing on self-care behaviors may be feasible for patients seeking therapies that are adjunct or alternative to conventional treatments. The study also suggested that this type of patient will participate in multitherapy options, and it offers support for expanding the conceptualization of and treatment for GAD by integrating CAM into existing cognitive-behavioral models.