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PATIENTS LOOKING TO SELF-HELP TREATMENTS FOR DEPRESSION
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Many Australians rely on complementary
and self-help treatments for depression, which is a major health problem in Australia, according to a review in the Medical Journal of Australia.
The review conducted by Professor Anthony Jorm, Dr Helen Christensen, Dr Kathleen Griffiths and Dr Bryan Rodgers, from the Centre for Mental Health Research, at the Australian National University, is published in the journal's supplement, Depression and the Community.
The authors cited the results of a 1997 national survey in which 57% of respondents regarded vitamins, minerals, tonics, or herbal medicines as likely to be helpful for treating depression, compared with 29% who nominated antidepressants.
An earlier study also found that self-help interventions to treat depression are prominent, where 55% of respondents used alcohol and 55% took pain relievers.
Professor Jorm said in using complementary and self-help treatments, it is important to prevent potentially harmful interactions with conventional treatments.
"Given their frequent use, complementary and self-help treatments warrant the same degree of evaluation as conventional treatments," he said.
In their extensive review of evidence for complementary medicine and self-help treatment Professor Jorm and his colleagues found that treatments with the best evidence of effectiveness are St John's wort, exercise, and self-help books involving cognitive behaviour therapy.
There is also some limited evidence to support the effectiveness of a number of complementary treatments including, acupuncture, massage and relaxation therapy, light therapy (for winter and non-seasonal depression), folate and yoga breathing exercises.
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