ArticleBMC complementary and alternative medicine2018
Complementary and alternative medicine use among children with mental health issues: results from the National Health Interview Survey.
Article in BMC complementary and alternative medicine, 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 17 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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Who cites it
17 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 41 citations in OpenAlex.
- A bibliometric and visualization analysis for global research trends in Wushu and mental health (1981-2024).Frontiers in psychiatry · 2026Pooled it
- Mind-Body Physical Activity Interventions and Stress-Related Physiological Markers in Educational Settings: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2020Pooled it
- The Use of Traditional Chinese Medicine Among Chinese Seniors in Canada and the United States: A Scoping Review.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Review
- Satisfaction and interpersonal process of care experience of parents with children under chiropractic care.Journal of chiropractic medicine · 2026Article
- Chiropractic Care in Children: A Review of Evidence and Safety.Clinical pediatrics · 2025Review
- Yoga in Pediatric Gastroenterology.Current gastroenterology reports · 2024Review
- Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) Practices: A Narrative Review Elucidating the Impact on Healthcare Systems, Mechanisms and Paediatric Applications.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2024Review
- Cross-Cultural Patient Counseling and Communication in the Integrative Medicine Setting: Respecting the Patient's Health Belief Model of Care.Current psychiatry reports · 2024Review
- The engagement of psychology with complementary medicine: A critical integrative review.Heliyon · 2023Review
- Use of Psychics for Stress and Emotional Problems: A Descriptive Survey Comparison with Conventional Providers and Informal Helpers.Administration and policy in mental health · 2022Article
- Profiles and predictors of healthcare utilization: using a cluster-analytic approach to identify typical users across conventional, allied and complementary medicine, and self-care.BMC health services research · 2022Article
- Scope of Practice and Principles of Care of Naturopathic Medicine in North America: A Commentary.Children (Basel, Switzerland) · 2021Article
- Sleeping without Prescription: Management of Sleep Disorders in Children with Autism with Non-Pharmacological Interventions and Over-the-Counter Treatments.Brain sciences · 2020Review
- U.S. Physician Recommendations to Their Patients About the Use of Complementary Health Approaches.Journal of alternative and complementary medicine (New York, N.Y.) · 2020Article
- Study of Natural products Adverse Reactions (SONAR) in children seen in mental health clinics: a cross-sectional study.BMJ paediatrics open · 2020Article
- Perceptions of Health Professionals on the Implementation of Integrative and Complementary Practices at a University Pediatric Hospital in Brazil: A Qualitative Interview Study.Integrative cancer therapiesArticle
- Qualitative Assessment CIH Institutions' Engagement With Underserved Communities to Enhance Healthcare Access and Utilization.Global advances in integrative medicine and healthArticle
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Authors and funding
4 authors at 4 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundMental health issues in children have become a serious public health concern in the U.S. within the past few decades. Emerging evidence suggests that Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) can be beneficial for various mental health issues. However, little is known about the prevalence, reasons, and associated factors of CAM use among this population in the U.S. The purpose of this study is to examine the characteristics of CAM use among U.S. children with mental health issues.
methodsUtilizing the 2012 National Health Interview Survey data, we used descriptive analysis, Wald F-statistics, and multivariable survey logistic regression models to examine the prevalence, patterns, and associated factors of CAM use in children aged 4-17 (n = 10,233) adjusting for the complex sampling design.
resultsCAM use is more popular among children with mental health issues compared with those without (19.2% vs. 10.1%, p < 0.001). Herbal remedies (9.1%), mind-body therapies (5.5%), and chiropractic care (5.3%) were the most frequently used modalities. Primary reasons for children to use CAM are because they are helpful (69.2%), natural (55.9%), and holistic (44.7%). The majority of CAM users perceived CAM therapies are helpful. Predictors of CAM use are children who are female, whose parents had a higher educational level and socioeconomic status, and who had at least one co-morbid medical condition. Only 18.4% of CAM usage was recommended by medical doctors.
conclusionsApproximately 10 million parents of children with mental health issues reported the use of CAM therapies, mainly because of their desire for a more natural and holistic healthcare approach. Given that the majority of CAM users perceived CAM therapies as helpful, future studies should investigate the unique contributions of CAM in pediatric psychiatric care. Because a low percentage of CAM use was recommended by medical doctors, educational interventions designed to equip medical professionals with CAM knowledge and experience will be conducive to improving effective patient-physician communication in clinical settings. Since CAM use is reported as more prevalent by parents' of children with higher education and family income, effective strategies designed to reduce disparities in accessing promising CAM therapies are warranted.
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