The Use of Complementary and Alternative Therapies to Treat Anxiety and Depression in the United States

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: This study presents data on the use of complementary and alternative therapies to treat anxiety and depression in the United States. METHOD: The data came from a nationally representative survey of 2,055 respondents (1997–1998) that obtained information on the use of 24 complementary and alternative therapies for the treatment of specific chronic conditions. RESULTS: A total of 9.4% of the respondents reported suffering from “anxiety attacks” in the past 12 months; 7.2% reported “severe depression.” A total of 56.7% of those with anxiety attacks and 53.6% of those with severe depression reported using complementary and alternative therapies to treat these conditions during the past 12 months. Only 20.0% of those with anxiety attacks and 19.3% of those with severe depression visited a complementary or alternative therapist. A total of 65.9% of the respondents seen by a conventional provider for anxiety attacks and 66.7% of those seen by a conventional provider for severe depression also used com...