Alternative Medicine Not Ready for Prime Time

Although complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is considered outside the usual canon of western medical practice, it is often desired by patients for any number of somatic or psychiatric complaints, including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). CAM techniques for PTSD include meditation, acupuncture, and relaxation. However, the evidence base for such approaches is slim, according to an article in the fall PTSD Research Quarterly. A systematic review found just seven randomized controlled trials, and they were small and poorly designed.

“[T]he most basic question ‘Can it work?’ for PTSD has not yet been...

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Published By: Psychiatric News - 5 days ago