Complementary and Alternative Medicine: A treatment for mental health

Complementary and Alternative Medicine: A treatment for mental health

Introduction: Mental health disorders such as anxiety, depression and stress related conditions are increasingly prevalent affecting millions globally. 42.5 million adults worldwide have an anxiety disorder and 50 % of those are before they turn 14 years old. Usual treatment for mental health, or traditional treatment, includes psychotherapy and medication. However, there is a growing interest in complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) as potential treatments, including, acupuncture, yoga, herbs and others. Focused Clinical Question: How effective is complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in treating mental health conditions? Search Strategy and Results of Search: CINAHL, APA psych articles, and DSM-5 library were used for this research. Keywords included alternative treatment, CAM, traditional treatment, acupuncture, anxiety, depression, and stress scale. Key Evidence and Results: Lifestyle changes, including mindfulness meditation and yoga, resulted in relief from symptoms associated with stress such as worrying, insomnia, and muscle pain. Holistic treatments such as acupuncture, reiki, and herbal medicines increased mindfulness with decreased stress and anxiety scales. Application / Implication: CAM is effective for anyone suffering from a mental health condition, especially those who have either tried or had negative outcomes from traditional treatment, or those who cannot use traditional treatments..Millions of people are impacted by mental health conditions, CAM provides simple and effective treatment options. Word Count: 226 words