Since our last review of the evidence for natural treatments, several new studies have been published...

The good news about natural treatments is that scientists have begun to take them seriously...

Dr. Brown, there are many complementary or natural treatments available for our patients. Which treatments have you have found particularly helpful in your practice?

Combining medication and behavioral therapy leads to better outcomes for children with pervasive developmental disorders (PDDs), according to a recent study.

We know that headaches are common in the general population, but they are particularly common among patients with psychiatric problems. According to one review, (Pompili M et al., J Headache Pain 2009; 10(4):283-290) patients with depression have a 46% lifetime prevalence of migraine, while bipolar patients have a 51% prevalence. Patients with migraines have triple the risk of developing depression than patients without migraines.

Omega-3 fatty acids have been studied in a number of psychiatric disorders, including autism, bipolar disorder, depression, and schizophrenia. A new study shows a possible benefit for patients with a history of self-harm.

Vitamin E, recommended variously for preventing cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and tardive dyskinesia, has taken quite a drubbing in recent years. Recent results from Harvard’s Women's Health Study have put another nail in its coffin.

There are several natural treatments out there that may be helpful in psychiatry. Recently, the British Journal of Psychiatry published a review of “complementary medicines in psychiatry,” (Br J Psychiatry 2006;188:109-121). Based on this paper and our own review of recent better quality studies, TCPR offers the following list of potentially useful natural treatments.

A number of natural treatments have been subjected to the same kinds of rigorous double blind studies required of conventional medications and they have fared poorly. Four of the most commercially popular of these treatments have received particularly harsh treatment from the scientific method.

Dr. Mischoulon, thank you for returning to the pages of The Carlat Psychiatry Report. I know that since our last interview, you have been involved in studying the use of acupuncture in psychiatry. Tell us about that.