Positive Health Online

Abstract

WOLSKO and colleagues, Division for Research and Education in Complementary and Integrative Medical Therapies, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA, pwolsko@hms.harvard.edu, have surveyed the use of mind-body medical therapies in the USA.

Background

Research demonstrating connections between body and mind has increased the interest in mind-body medical therapies. This study aimed to survey the use of such therapies nationally.

Methodology

A total of 2055 American adults were randomly selected and surveyed by telephone.

Results

A 60% weighted response rate was obtained. 18.9% of respondents had used a mind-body therapy in the previous year (1997). 20.5% of these therapies involved visiting a mind-body professional. Meditation, visualizations, and yoga were the most commonly used therapies. Users of such therapies were more likely to be between 40 and 49 years old, not married, have an education level of college or greater, have used prayer for medical concerns before, and have used other complementary therapies. The therapies were used for the full array of medical conditions but not very frequently for chronic pain and insomnia, conditions for which the efficacy of these therapies has been specifically demonstrated. They were also not very often used for heart disease, headaches, back or neck pain, and cancer – all conditions for which there is strong support that mind-body therapies can be helpful. Mind-body therapies were generally used along with conventional care: 90% of users had seen a physician, and 80% had discussed their use of mind-body therapy with their doctor.

Conclusion

Mind-body therapies are commonly used in the USA. Much opportunity exists to increase their use for conditions where their efficacy has been shown.

References

Wolsko PM. Eisenberg DM, Davis RB, Philli[s RS. Use of mind-body medical therapies. Journal of General Internal Medicine 19 (1): 43-50, Jan 2004.