Objectives: This study was designed to investigate the experiences of uses of oriental medicine for psychiatric symptoms, combined medication with psychiatric medicine, and notification of combined medication to psychiatrists. The authors wanted to understand the state of uses of oriental medicine in patients under psychiatric treatment.
Methods: The subjects were 588 patients out of local neuropsychiatric clinic, large mental hospital, and university hospital from 1st, July, 2001 to 31st, August, 2001. They are composed of Schizophrenia (Group 1), Depression (Group 2), Anxiety disorder (Group 3), Somatoform disorder (Group 4), Alcohol dependence syndrome (Group 5). The information was obtained from self-reported questionnaire. Demographic data, selection of alternative medicine, uses of oriental medicine, reason of uses of oriental medicine, combined medication with oriental medicine, notification of combined medication to psychiatrists, and necessity of oriental medicine were investigated.
Results: Among the cases of uses of oriental medicine for psychiatric symptoms, current combined medication group was 59.1%, only western medication group after psychiatric treatment(past orienal medication group) was 40.9%. With combined medication rate for each group, group 3 was 42.9%, group 2 was 33.1%, group 4 was 30.8%, group 1 was 24.4%, and group 5 was 23.1%. Among these groups, group 2 and 3 have combined medication trend. Reasons for oriental medication for psychiatric symptoms were recommendation of family(52.0%), decision by oneself(31.3%), the others(5.0%), recommendation of other patients(4.3%), effect of mass media(2.5%). For effect of oriental medicine, current combined medication group said very good(14.9%), somewhat good(46.6%), no effect(32.9%), worse(5.6%). Past oriental medication group said very good(6.1%), somewhat good(33.9%), no effect(56.5%), worse(3.5%). Statistically significantly combined medication group feels oriental medicine effective, so they use both oriental and western medication. Reasons for combined medication were weakness of the body(32.5%), recommendation of others (18.7%), complete recovery(13.9%), as before(12.7%), assistance to psychiatric treatment(11.4%), the others(10.8%). Among combined medication group, rates of combined medication at the same time were 43.8%. When taking oriental medicine with psychiatric medicine, only 45.8% of patients consulted with psychiatrists. Among group who considered oriental medicine essential, combined medication group was most common(61.0%). Among group who consider unnecessary, no experience group was most common(52.9%). Combined medication group considered necessity of oriental medicine essential statistically significantly.
Conclusion: 59.1% of patients who has experience of uses of oriental medicine for psychiatric symptoms took oriental
medicine with psychiatric medicine after psychiatric treatment. The rate of combined medication was statistically significantly high among depression, anxiety disorder patients. Combined medication group felt the good effect of oriental medicine. When taking oriental medicine with psychiatric medicine, only 45.8% of patients consulted with psychiatrists. Like this, so many patients used oriental medicine with psychiatric medicine, psychiatrists have to consider the possibility of combined medication in prescription, evaluation of medication and side effects.
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