Psychiatric Patients\u27 Experiences in Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM), and in Religious Support – A Pilot Study

In the Psychiatric Hospital »Vrap~e« an investigation on a 200 patient sample was carried out in the year 2000. The purpose of the investigation was to analyze the examinees’ experiences of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) and religious support. 35.5% of the examinees had had previous experiences of CAM and religious support. The examinees born in towns used CAM methods and religious support significantly more often. The schizophrenic patients used CAM methods and religious support significantly more frequently than the patients with affective and anxiety disorders. Non-significantly more often CAM methods and religious support were utilized by women, examinees between 21 and 30 years of age, persons who graduated from junior college, those who live in cohabitation and patients of Islamic religion. Patients consulted priests most often. Significantly more often patients did not pay for the CAM treatments and religious support and non-significantly more often patients considered CAM therapy and religious support to be successful. Non-significantly more often patients consulted CAM practitioners and religious practitioners without being previously advised by their relatives or friends. Relatives of the patients advised them to consult CAM practitioners and religious practitioners significantly more often than the friends of the patients did. Considering the possible missed benefits and harm effects of CAM treatment as well as of the interaction between utilization of CAM methods/religious support and conventional treatment, this problem should be given full attention. Further investigations are required

Inter-relationship of plasma markers of oxidative stress and thyroid hormones in schizophrenics

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The relationship of oxidative stress to thyroid hormones has not been studied in the schizophrenics. The present study determined the status and interrelationship of plasma markers of oxidative stress, nitric oxide and thyroid hormones in thirty (17 males and 13 females) newly diagnosed patients with acute schizophrenia before initiation of chemotherapy. Twenty five (13 males and 12 females) mentally healthy individuals served as controls. Patients and controls with history of hard drugs (including alcohol and cigarette), pre-diagnosis medications (e.g. antiparkinsonian/antipsychotic drugs), chronic infections, liver disease and diabetes mellitus were excluded from the study. Plasma levels of total antioxidant potential (TAP), total plasma peroxides (TPP), nitric oxide (NO), malondialdehyde (MDA), thyroxine (T4), tri-iodothyronine (T3) and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) were determined in all participants using spectrophotometric and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) methods respectively. Oxidative stress index (OSI) was calculated as the percent ratio of total plasma peroxides and total antioxidant potential.</p> <p>Findings</p> <p>Significantly higher plasma levels of MDA (p < 0.01), TPP (p < 0.01), OSI (p < 0.01), T3 (p < 0.01) and T4 (p < 0.05) were observed in schizophrenics when compared with the controls. The mean levels of TAP, NO and TSH were significantly lower in schizophrenics (p < 0.01) when compared with the controls. The result shows that T3 values correlate significantly with MDA (p < 0.05) and TPP (p < 0.01) in schizophrenics.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Higher level of TPP may enhance thyroid hormogenesis in schizophrenics. Adjuvant antioxidant therapy may be a novel approach in the treatment of schizophrenic patients.</p