To get a better understanding of how often CAM is used for PTSD, Daniel J. Libby of the VA New England Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center in West Haven, Connecticut, reviewed data from 599 PTSD clients who were part of a larger survey. He found that nearly 40% of the clients used one of the 15 available CAM therapies during their treatment. The most commonly used types of CAM were exercise therapy and relaxation or meditation. He also discovered that the individuals who were most likely to use CAM were women, those with high levels of education, and older individuals. Participants who reported having another mental health issue in addition to PTSD were also among the most likely to use CAM techniques. The study showed that clients who used CAM in conjunction with EBT and exposure therapies had the highest rates of positive outcome. Libby added, “Thus, clinicians should encourage patients to adopt safe and effective CAM practices prior to and while undergoing the trauma-processing component of evidence-based PTSD treatments.” GoodTherapy.org
Reference:
Libby, D. J., Pilver, C. E., & Desai, R. (2012). Complementary and Alternative Medicine Use Among Individuals With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1037/a0027082
