Loading...
More than 50% of the U.S. population have used alternative therapies, whether biologically based (e.g., special diets or supplements), mind-body–based (e.g., meditation), or body-based (e.g., massage). Unlike psychotropic medications and psychotherapies, these treatments have been inconsistently studied by careful scientific methods (i.e., randomized, controlled trials [RCTs] or even careful observational analyses) for psychiatric effectiveness. This past year, several studies have clarified the effects and limitations of these alternative approaches. Here, we review studies of supplements and diet; mindfulness and other “attitude adjustment” techniques; and exercise, perhaps the most useful “body-based therapy.”.