Complementary medicine for depression
Strong EvidenceIn Plain Language: depression, explained
Surveys have demonstrated that complementary medicine use for depression is widespread, although patterns of use vary. A series of systematic reviews provide a summary of the current evidence for acupuncture, aromatherapy and massage, homeopathy, meditation, reflexology, herbal medicine, yoga, and several dietary supplements and relaxation techniques. The quantity and quality of individual studies vary widely, but research interest in complementary therapies is increasing, particularly in herbal and nutritional products. Major questions are still to be answered with respect to the effectiveness and appropriate role of these therapies in the management of depression. Areas for further research and some of the potential challenges to research design are discussed. Finally, several ongoing developments in information provision on this topic are highlighted.
Key Findings: what this systematic review found about depression
- ✓Complementary medicine use for depression is widespread among patients, though usage patterns vary across populations.
- ✓Research quality and quantity on complementary therapies for depression varies considerably, with growing research interest particularly in herbal and nutritional products.
- ✓The effectiveness and appropriate clinical role of complementary therapies in depression management remain unclear due to unanswered major questions requiring further research.
What This Means for You
Reflexology is used for depression, but current evidence is limited, so it should complement rather than replace conventional treatment while more research is conducted.
What This Means for Practitioners
Reflexology research for depression needs larger, well-designed studies to establish effectiveness; document outcomes carefully to contribute to the evidence base.
Depression: common questions
What does this study say about depression?
Reflexology is used for depression, but current evidence is limited, so it should complement rather than replace conventional treatment while more research is conducted.
What did this study find?
Complementary medicine use for depression is widespread among patients, though usage patterns vary across populations. Research quality and quantity on complementary therapies for depression varies considerably, with growing research interest particularly in herbal and nutritional products. The effectiveness and appropriate clinical role of complementary therapies in depression management remain unclear due to unanswered major questions requiring further research.
How strong is this evidence?
This is a systematic review and we rate its evidence strong. It was published in Expert review of neurotherapeutics. This study is indexed here for context; it did not test reflexology itself.
Related Research
Effects of manual osteopathic interventions on psychometric and psychophysiological indicators of anxiety, depression and stress in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.
Comparing the effects of warm footbath and foot reflexology on depression of patients undergoing radiotherapy: A randomized clinical trial
Integrative Therapies in Cancer Care: An Update on the Guidelines.
Evidence-Based Nonpharmacological Symptom Management of Palliative Care in Advanced and Metastatic Cancer Patients: A Systematic Review
Integrative Oncology Care of Symptoms of Anxiety and Depression in Adults With Cancer: Society for Integrative Oncology-ASCO Guideline.
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