Contested Knowledge and Information Behaviour: Treatments for Depression

Author(s):  
Tami Oliphant

A wide variety of treatment options for depressives have been developed by both the conventional and complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) sectors. Using data collected from three online newsgroups as well as in-depth interviews, I analyze how people use information when making or justifying claims, or making decisions, about treatments for depression.Les personnes souffrant de dépression ont une grande variété d'options de traitement à leur disposition, y compris les méthodes conventionnelles et les méthodes complémentaires ou alternatives. À l'aide de données recueillies à partir de trois forums en ligne et d'entrevues en profondeur, j'ai analysé comment les gens utilisent cette information pour déclarer, justifier leurs déclarations ou encore choisir les traitements contre la dépression. ***Student to CAIS/ACSI Award Winner***

Medicine ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 95 (6) ◽  
pp. e2695 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tal Marom ◽  
Paola Marchisio ◽  
Sharon Ovnat Tamir ◽  
Sara Torretta ◽  
Haim Gavriel ◽  
...  

2015 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jenny-Ann Danell

<em>Background</em>. Recent studies indicate increased use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in western societies, to ameliorate health problems. Even if there is substantial research on general patterns of use, there is limited knowledge on individual motives. This study contributes to a qualitative understanding of experiences of choosing and using CAM. <br /><em>Design and methods</em>. This study consists of in-depth interviews with 10 CAM users in Sweden. The participants represent different backgrounds and experiences of using CAM. The interviews have been analysed in accordance with content analysis. <br /><em>Results</em>. In analysing experiences of choosing and using CAM four main themes were identified: frustration and critique, values and ideology, individual responsibility, and combining treatments. In general, the participants were highly reflexive on issues concerning their health. They highlighted their own role and responsibility, combined a variety of treatments, and continuously dealt with questions on risks, even if they had relatively different approaches to if and when to use CAM. The results also show that motives may change over time. Even if initial choices were closely related to frustration and critique of conventional treatments (for example, by perceiving conventional health care as limited, not receiving proper diagnoses, or being critical to conventional drugs) was long-term use motivated by ideological characteristics of CAM (such as holistic and individualized treatments, and extensive interaction with practitioners).<br /><em>Conclusions</em>. Four main themes, concerning experiences of choosing and using CAM were identified. This study also supports the idea that initial motives for choosing CAM may differ from those explaining long-term use.


Author(s):  
Gary H. Wynn ◽  
David M. Benedek

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.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 752-762
Author(s):  
Ni Wayan Sariani ◽  
I Wayan Rasna ◽  
I Nengah Martha ◽  
Gde Artawan

Text Usada Wariga Dalem is one of Usada in Bali as a national cultural heritage which contains the knowledge system of traditional Balinese treatment which includes symptoms of disease, names of diseases, medicinal facilities, how to mix, and how to treat. One of the symptoms contained in the text of Usada Wariga Dalem usada is fever. Handling of fever can be done by using medicinal plants as contained in the text of Usada Wariga Dalem. Treatment with medicinal herbs is still one of the options for Balinese people in treating diseases. Traditional medicinal herbs for fever are often used as alternative and complementary medicines. This research examined what included fever in the text of Usada Wariga Dalem, what were the ingredients of fever medicine in the text of Usada Wariga Dalem and how the medicine could be a complementary and alternative medicine for the Balinese people. This research used a descriptive qualitative research method. literature study and ethnography method. The data needed in this study were collected using a library study, observation, and in-depth interviews. The data is sourced from the Usada Wariga Dalem lontar text, which was collected at the Lontar Study Center, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Udayana University. The traditional medicine for fever contained in the Usada Wariga Dalem text can be used for complementary and alternative medicine. This traditional treatment using medicinal ingredients from processed plants, has been proven to reduce the patient's fever.


2009 ◽  
Vol 27 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. e17528-e17528
Author(s):  
J. A. Brauer ◽  
A. El Sehamy ◽  
J. M. Metz ◽  
J. J. Mao

e17528 Background: With increasing frequency, cancer patients and their family members are turning to the Internet to educate themselves about their disease and treatment options, including CAM and supportive care. However, very little is known about how national leading cancer centers represent these therapies via their websites. Methods: Simulating the patients’ perspective, we performed a systematic analysis of the websites of 41 National Cancer Institute (NCI) designated comprehensive cancer centers. Two researchers independently evaluated websites, recorded CAM information, and rated quality of the websites using a 4-item Likert scale (overall, information, presentation, and navigation) with Cronbach's alpha = 0.97. Rating was adequately correlated between the two raters (correlation coefficient 0.8). Results: Of 41 centers, 12 (29%) did not have functional websites with regards to information related to CAM. The most common CAM approaches mentioned were: acupuncture (59%), meditation/nutrition/spiritual support/yoga (56% for each), massage therapy (54%), and music therapy (51%). Twenty-three (56%) presented information on support groups, 19 (46%) on patient seminars, 18 (44%) on survivorship effort, and 17 (41%) on symptom management clinics. Twenty-nine (71%) of these websites had a telephone number available, 22 (54%) mentioned at least one ongoing research opportunity, and 19 (46%) provided links to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine website. Median rating of the quality of websites was 50 out of 100, with only 7 (17%) of centers receiving a composite score 80 (excellent) or better. Conclusions: While a growing number of leading cancer centers provide information about CAM and supportive oncology information for patients via their websites, the quality and ease of navigation of these sites remain highly variable. Effective development and redesign of many of the websites is needed to better inform and empower patients and families seeking CAM and supportive care information. No significant financial relationships to disclose.


Author(s):  
Tami Oliphant

Depressives often use both CAM (complementary and alternative medicine) and conventional medicine to treat their depression. However, the use of CAM often contested as certain therapies are considered by some to be counterknowledge. Using data collected from the messages posted to three online newsgroups, I have analyzed how people use information and discursive strategies to build-up or undermine accounts justifying CAM use or non-use.Les personnes souffrant de dépression font souvent appel à la médecine complémentaire et alternative (MCA) et à la médecine conventionnelle pour traiter leur dépression. Malheureusement, certaines thérapies dites alternatives sont souvent considérés par certains comme étant de la désinformation. À l'aide de données recueillies sur trois forums de discussion en ligne, j'ai analysé comment les gens utilisent l'information et des stratégies discursives pour justifier ou réfuter les arguments visant l'utilisation ou la non-utilisation de la MCA.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document