Patients looking to self-help treatments for depression

The authors of the review cited the results of a recent national survey published in The Medical Journal of Australia in 1997 in which 57 per cent of respondents regarded vitamins, minerals, tonics, or herbal medicines as likely to be helpful for treating depression, compared with 29 percent who nominated antidepressants.

An earlier study also found that self-help interventions to treat depression are prominent, where 55 percent of respondents used alcohol, while 55 percent took pain relievers.

Professor Jorm said in using complementary and self-help treatments, it is important to prevent potentially harmful interactions with conventional treatments.

"General practitioners can play an important role in providing information about treatments to patients which are effective, which are not, and which have not been adequately evaluated," Professor Jorm said. "Given their frequent use complementary and self-help treatments warrant the same degree of evaluation as conventional treatments"

In their extensive review of evidence for complementary medicine and self-help treatment Professor Jorm and his colleagues found that treatments with the best evidence of effectiveness are St John's wort, exercise, and self-help books involving cognitive behaviour therapy. There is also some limited evidence to support the effectiveness of a number of complementary treatments including, acupuncture, massage and relaxation therapy, light therapy (for winter and non-seasonal depression), folate and yoga breathing exercises.

The researchers concluded in recommending, "that the frequent use of complementary and self-help treatments warrant the same level of evaluation as conventional treatments".

The Medical Journal of Australia is a publication of the Australian Medical Association.

CONTACT: Professor Anthony Jorm Phone: (02) 6125 8414 (B/H)

(02) 6254 6931 (A/H)

Sarah Crichton, AMA Phone: (0419) 440 076