[Evaluation of use of complementary and alternative medicine by schizophrenic patients].

Background: Natural and alternative healing methods are becoming ever more popular in the USA and Europe. Nevertheless, objective data about the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) by persons suffering from schizophrenic disturbances is scarce.

Objective: To examine whether patients who had undergone or were undergoing stationary treatment for a schizophrenic disturbance preferred CAM and, if so, to what extent.

Material and methods: Via a special questionnaire, 70 patients in the adult psychiatry wards of a public hospital in Switzerland were interviewed. Most patients were undergoing stationary treatment with neuroleptics. The questionnaire covered various types of standard medical treatment as well as treatments with CAM, and explored patient motivation for their respective use.

Results: CAM methods were quite popular: they were used by 82% of all women and 91% of all men for treatment of mental problems, and were further recommended by 93% of women and 80% of men. Sex, age, highest educational level, present vocational position and severity of illness had no significant influence upon popularity. Most popular CAM methods were preparations for ingestion, psychological and imaginative procedures, body-oriented psychotherapy, and treatments involving sensory perceptions. Motivation for use of CAM encompassed personal interest, friends, family and acquaintances as well as an overall wish for treatment complementary to main stream.

Conclusions: CAM methods are used in addition to - not instead of - usual practices of established medicine, and are just as popular as standard methods. Accordingly, CAM can justifiably be regarded as belonging to the 'main stream' of the health-seeking public.