Disclaimer

THIS OUTLINE CANNOT AND DOES NOT CONSTITUTE MEDICAL ADVICE. MHA is an advocacy organization and does not provide treatment advice. This outline merely assembles the evidence compiled and analyzed by others - principally the ten sources listed above. More importantly, mental health conditions are complex, people differ widely in their conditions and responses, and interactions with other conditions and treatments are best evaluated by a physical examination and consultation with a qualified clinician. MHA suggests that this outline is a good starting point to discuss potential CAM treatments with your physician or other health care practitioner.

CAUTION IS IN ORDER. What is unproven today may be proven tomorrow, and vice-versa. This is an outline of CURRENTLY AVAILABLE EVIDENCE, AS OF THE END OF 2012, and it documents disagreements which should be resolved in time. There are many potential CAM treatments for which we have little reliable evidence, and clinical practice often proceeds without it, and over time to develop it. WE STILL HAVE A LOT TO LEARN.

Information Needed

MHA is concerned that many consumers are using CAM treatments that are not likely to help their condition, without discussing their use with their health care provider, or in situations where the clinician is unable to help because of inadequate information, and without adequate consideration of the evidence that exists on efficacy, co-occurring conditions, drug interactions, side effects, dosages, and alternatives.