Frequency of Unconventional Treatment Use in Psychiatric Patients

Elaheh Yousefi; Alaleh Bahramian; Mohammad Reza Najarzadehgan; Amir Abbas Keshavarz Akhlaghi; Kaveh Alavi; Amir Hossein  Jalali Nadoushan

doi:10.18502/jimc.v4i2.6464

Elaheh Yousefi Department of Mental Health and Psychiatry, Iran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran
Alaleh Bahramian Department of Mental Health and Psychiatry, Iran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran
Mohammad Reza Najarzadehgan Iran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran
Amir Abbas Keshavarz Akhlaghi Department of Mental Health and Psychiatry, Iran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran
Kaveh Alavi Department of Mental Health and Psychiatry, Iran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran
Amir Hossein Jalali Nadoushan Department of Mental Health and Psychiatry, Iran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/jimc.v4i2.6464

Keywords: Demography, Humans, Mental disorders

Abstract

Background: This study was conducted to determine the frequency of unconventional treatment use by psychiatric patients in Tehran.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 404 patients diagnosed with psychiatric disorders were studied. The participants responded to a checklist and filled a questionnaire about their demographic characteristics.

Results: Simultaneous use of conventional and unconventional treatment was seen in 39.4% of patients, and among them, herbal therapy was the most common type (20.5%). No relationship was observed between patient satisfaction and the use of such treatment (p=0.347).

Conclusion: There is a high frequency of unconventional treatment use in psychiatric patients. However, the exact reasons for patients’ tendency towards such approach and also advantages and disadvantages of its application need more investigation.