COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE IN PSYCHIATRY

Abstract

In recent decades, conventional medicine has begun to include natural remedies and spiritual therapy in the treatment of people with mental disorders, and in recent years, physicians and healthcare professionals more often refer to alternative and complementary methods in the treatment of mental disorders. Alternative medicine includes “other treatments” and a more suitable term would be complementary medicine which supplements the definition of conventional medicine accepted by the World Health Organization. After the rise of pharmaceutical industry in the second half of the 20th century and significant advancement in the treatment of mental disorders, comes a period of disappointment and acceptance of the fact that synthetic drugs are not omnipotent and may have serious and unpleasant side-effects. Due to this fact, there is a growing interest in the treatment of mental disorders with the use of complementary methods. It is important to note that these methods are not a substitute for standard treatment procedures and their appropriate application does not diminish the importance of classical treatment of psychiatric disorders. Numerous patients refuse classical therapy and seek the help of complementary medicine methods. It is therefore important for physicians and healthcare professionals to have knowledge of complementary medicine which is science based and advises on treatment methods provided they are scientifically justified.