Abstract
Background
Use of complementary and alternative medical (CAM) therapies is common among adults
with mental health concerns, but little is known about CAM use among adolescents with
mental health concerns.
Methods
Data from the 2007 National Health Interview Survey were analyzed for youth from 7
to 17 years old. The study focused on 3 common mental health conditions: attention-deficit/hyperactivity
disorder (ADHD), anxiety, and depression. CAM therapy use was identified by criteria
from the National Institutes of Health National Center for Complementary and Alternative
Medicine.
Results
In a sample of 5651 individuals, representing 7 million youth, with 1 or more mental
health concerns in the past 12 months, 28.9% used 1 or more types of CAM therapy,
excluding vitamins/minerals. In contrast, only 11.6% of those without mental health
concerns reported CAM therapy use (P < .05). Among youth with 1 or more mental health conditions, the most commonly used
CAM therapies were mind–body therapies (16.3%) and biologically based therapies (11%);
use was higher for therapies that could be directly accessed (18.6%) than for therapies
delivered in groups (11.8%) or through a health professional (10.2%). In the multivariable
regression model, demographic factors significantly associated with CAM therapy use
were higher household income, higher parental education, having other chronic health
conditions, use of prescription medications, and difficulty affording mental health
counseling.
Conclusions
Readily accessible CAM therapies are commonly used by youth with ADHD, depression,
and anxiety, particularly those who have comorbid chronic health conditions, receive
prescription medications, and have difficulty affording counseling. Clinicians can
use these data to guide inquiries and counseling. Researchers should explore the longitudinal
relationship between access to coordinated care within a medical home and use of CAM
therapies among youth with mental health concerns.
Keywords
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Article Info
Publication History
Accepted:
May 9,
2013
Received:
December 11,
2012
Footnotes
The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.
Identification
Copyright
© 2013 Academic Pediatric Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
