Complementary and Alternative Medicine for Trauma- and Stressor-Related Disorders

The use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) throughout the United States and abroad has significantly increased in the past decade. CAM is relevant to trauma and stressor-related disorders given the frequency of use, but there is very limited evidence to support these treatment options. There is also currently no generally accepted list of what treatments constitute CAM, but only a number of generalized definitions that attempt to provide structure to the concept; therefore, a challenge facing providers will be familiarization with the broad range of modalities potentially considered CAM. This chapter uses a clinician focused definition of CAM: dividing CAM in to “complementary”, “alternative”, and “alternative delivery methods”. The first section, on complementary medicine, covers animal therapy, recreational therapy, yoga, creative arts therapy, and meditation. The second, on alternative therapies, describes alternative pharmacology and acupuncture. The last section provides a brief overview recent developments in alternative care delivery methods.