- What are complementary therapies?
- The use of complementary therapies
- Claims made for complementary therapies in treating mental health problems
- Current research on the use of complementary therapies for treating mental health problems
- Some Conclusions
- Our work on complementary therapies
- Additional resources
1. What are complementary therapies?
The term 'complementary therapy' is generally used to indicate therapies which differ from orthodox Western medicine, and which may be used to complement and support conventional treatment.
The term 'alternative therapy' is used for therapies that offer alternatives to orthodox Western medicine. However, although some therapists might claim that their therapy provides an alternative to orthodox medicine, such claims should always be treated with caution. No therapy should be considered as proven to be safe and effective if service users have not been involved in the design and evaluation of the therapy.
This factsheet concentrates on complementary therapies. There are many, many different complementary therapies including: aromatherapy, anthroposophy, Ayurvedic medicine, Bach Flower Remedies, exercise, movement and relaxation, healing and touch therapies, herbal medicine (Western), homeopathy, hypnotherapy, massage, naturopathy, nutritional therapy, reflexology, traditional Chinese medicine, transcendental meditation and yoga.
2. The use of complementary therapies
A number of factors have contributed to a general rise in interest in complementary therapies. There has been an increase in the use of complementary therapies within the NHS, particularly amongst nurses. Recent NHS reforms have provided an opportunity for purchasers to consider the types of healthcare available, on the basis of cost and effectiveness, and changing attitudes on behalf of providers and commissioners of healthcare have been observed.
Continued dissatisfaction with psychiatric treatments amongst mental health service users, has led to the search for safer or more effective alternatives; and in some cases, this search has focused on finding ways of managing the side-effects of psychotropic medication.
However, a number of factors continue to limit the use of complementary therapies. The lack of resources in the NHS and the absence of adequate research evidence for their efficacy undoubtedly restrict the use of complementary therapies. There are also concerns about the regulation, training and registration of practitioners, although moves are being made so set standards for training and practice. Finally, political opposition to complementary therapies from healthcare professionals continues to flourish, despite the growing body of evidence in their favour.
3. Claims made for complementary therapies in treating mental health problems
A number of forms of complementary therapy are currently being used to treat mental health problems both in the voluntary and the statutory sectors. The health benefits claimed by each individual therapy differ considerably, and whilst not all claims are realised in the research evidence that exists, this mismatch may well be attributed as much to the paucity of research undertaken or to the type of research undertaken, as to the efficacy of the therapy itself.
4. Current research on the use of complementary therapies for treating mental health problems
Research already exists on the uses of complementary therapies for treating mental health problems. For example:
- Acupuncture can have a positive effect for some people diagnosed with schizophrenia
- Homeopathy has been shown to help people with severe mental health problems to recover, if used over long periods and if used alongside conventional antipsychotic medication.
- Herbal medicines, for example St. John's Wort (hypericum), has been linked to the relief of mild to moderately severe depression.
- Massage has been shown to reduce levels of anxiety, stress and depression in some people.
- Reflexology has been shown to aid relaxation, relieve stress and restore energy. It can help to reduce the side-effects of psychotropic medication and can moderate the highs and lows of mood swings.
- Research into nutritional and dietary medicine has demonstrated that food sensitivities may cause psychiatric symptoms, whilst a lack of folic acid has been associated with depression and schizophrenia and the supplementation of certain amino acids has been shown to relieve depression.
- Transcendental Meditation, hypnotherapy, yoga, exercise, relaxation, massage and aromatherapy have all been shown to have some effect in reducing stress, tension and anxiety and in alleviating mental distress.
5. Some Conclusions
It is clear that more research needs to be undertaken. Much of the existing research into the use of complementary therapies in mental health is in the form of case reports only, with few comprehensive clinical trials or research reviews having been carried out. Where research does exist, it is often difficult to access.
According to the Foundation for Integrated Medicine, most research on complementary therapies, whether into effectiveness, safety or mechanisms for action, has tended to be carried out as a collection of isolated studies, with no clear strategic framework. This, they argue, may be due to:
'lack of adequate infra-structures and funding for research, but also because of a paucity of research methods and a lack of input from 'professional researchers', who have hitherto mainly operated in more conventional therapeutic areas'
Research carried out by the Mental Health Foundation shows that mental health service users want greater access to complementary therapies and that where these are provided they are found to be well-received and helpful. However, given the current demand from the NHS Executive for evidence-based medicine, more investment is in good quality research, service development and training is needed if there is to be progress towards an integrated and holistic mental health service that provides real choice for service users.
6. Our work on complementary therapies
The Strategies for Living is a programme of our work aiming to explore the many ways in which people live and cope with mental health problems, and to ensure that this knowledge and experience is widely shared, first and foremost with service users/survivors, but also with service providers and purchasers.
The project has produced a number of publications on complementary therapies:
- An Investigation into Auricular Acupuncture. Book. Mental Health Foundation, 2001. Report of the study of which the main aim was to investigate the relevance and importance of the ear acupuncture service to users of mental health services, especially long-term users.
- An Investigation into Massage. Book. Mental Health Foundation, 2001. Report of the study of which the aim was to find out whether receiving and learning to give massage in a group setting could help relieve symptoms of mental distress.
- Complementary Therapies in Mental Health. Newsletter. Mental Health Foundation. Information about the various different complementary therapies.
- Healing Minds. [Complementary and Alternative Therapies.] Book. Mental Health Foundation, July 1998. By Jan Wallcraft, 104 pages. This in-depth report exhaustively explores the available research evidence about complementary therapies and mental health, including previously unpublished evidence.
- Knowing Our Own Minds: A Survey of How People in Emotional Distress Take Control of Their Lives. Book. Mental Health Foundation, February 1997. By Alison Faulkner, 104 pages. This report uses people's own words to describe their experiences of medical treatments, alternative and complementary therapies, religious and spiritual beliefs and personal coping strategies.
- Complementary Therapies in Mental Health. Briefing No. 23. Mental Health Foundation, February 1999.
7. Additional resources
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Complementary therapies for mental health problems: a select list of resources. |
