Mental Illness (Mar 2019)

How often do women use non-drug treatment methods for psyschiatric symptoms during pregnancy and postpartum periods?

  • Hilal Uslu Yuvaci,
  • Esra Yazici,
  • Ahmet Bulent Yazici,
  • Serhan Cevrioglu

DOI
https://doi.org/10.4081/mi.2019.7988
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 11, no. 1

Abstract

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The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of complementary and alternative medical applications (CAM) and non-drug treatments of women during their pregnancies, postpartum periods and the changes between these periods. The Screening Form for Non-pharmacologic Methods Used during Pregnancy and Postpartum period was administered to the participants. Passiflora (Incarnata), Hypericum perforatum (St. John’s Wort), omega 3 supplements, bright light treatment, transmagnetic stimulation, S-adenosyl- methionine, herbal teas, biofeedback/neurofeedback, amulets, exercise, acupuncture and psychotherapy were investigated. The ratio of the use of one of the CAM methods for psychiatric complaints during people’s lifetime was found to be 33.3% (n=162). Herbal teas were the main practice used during pregnancy (58.8%) and the postpartum. The use of CAM according to the utilization periods of the participants statistically significantly decreased in those who were currently pregnant (Cochran’s Q=298.007; P<0.05). The use of participants’ non-drug treatments in the periodical follow-up decreased in those who are currently pregnant and increased during the postpartum period.

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