Pattern and frequency of use of complementary and alternative medicine among patients with epilepsy in the midwestern United States

doi:10.1016/j.yebeh.2007.02.017

Epilepsy & Behavior

Volume 10, Issue 4, June 2007, Pages 576-582

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yebeh.2007.02.017 Get rights and content

Abstract

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is recognized to be commonly used by patients, yet there have been few studies regarding the scope of CAM use by patients with epilepsy. This study assessed usage and perceptions of CAM by patients with epilepsy in the midwest of the United States. A 25-item survey was administered to adult patients with epilepsy, and data were collected from 228 patients. The survey collected demographics, specific CAM usage, adverse effects of CAM therapy, and perceptions of the effectiveness of CAM. Thirty-nine percent reported using CAM; 25% reported using CAM specifically for their epilepsy. Prayer/spirituality was the most commonly used form of CAM (46%), followed by “mega” vitamins (25%), chiropractic care (24%), and stress management (16%). CAM use is common among midwestern patients with epilepsy, although the pattern of use may be slightly different than in other regions of the United States and elsewhere.

Introduction

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) consists of medical treatments and therapies that are not a part of conventional medicine [1]. Worldwide, it is estimated that greater than 80% of the population of developing countries depend on CAM, whereas about 50% of the population in industrialized countries use CAM [2]. More specifically, CAM use is prevalent in 70% of the Canadian population, 48% of the Australian population, and 42% of the US population [3]. In the United States, about 600 million visits are made to CAM practitioners annually, at an estimated cost of $30 billion [3].

Prayer and spirituality are commonly used CAM therapies, as are stress management, herbal remedies, chiropractic, acupuncture, meditative practices, and yoga [4], [5]. These therapies appear benign and, in many cases, have been considered extremely useful [6]. However, some negative reactions have been associated with the use of herbals by the elderly, such as dementia and decreased cognitive skills [7]. As a result, seemingly benign supplemental or alternative therapies may have implications that warrant a physician’s awareness and involvement.

Moreover, CAM is used by patients for various medical conditions, including epilepsy. A 2003 study reported that 44% of individuals with epilepsy in Arizona had used various CAM treatments for their seizures, with prayer constituting 44% of such CAM use [6]. In a study from the United Kingdom, 11% of epilepsy patients used CAM for their seizures; however, seizure frequency was not reported to be affected. Despite the pervasiveness of CAM use among those with epilepsy, there have been few studies regarding the scope of CAM use within this population. Although CAM use has been assessed and reported in the western United States [8], there have been no studies regarding CAM usage and its possible benefits for patients with epilepsy in the midwest. The goals of this study were to assess the extent to which CAM treatments are used for epilepsy and to assess the perceptions of CAM by patients at a midwest comprehensive epilepsy center, Via Christi Comprehensive Epilepsy Center (VCCEC) in Wichita, Kansas.

Section snippets

Participants and instrument

Patients 18 years and older who were physically able to speak, hear, or read were eligible to participate in the study. Chart review was conducted only for those patients who were solicited by phone or in person. Those not accessible by these methods were sent the survey via mail. There were no identifiers on the mailed survey, so a chart review was not possible. The chart review allowed for inclusion of such variables as the numbers and names of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) taken and the number

Results

Seventy-nine surveys were completed by phone and in person. Additionally, 446 surveys were mailed out to participants, and 149 were completed and returned, a 33% response rate. This produced a total of 228 completed surveys (Table 1). The majority of respondents (85%) were Caucasian. Of those surveyed, 34% reported having a high school education, 46% reported being employed, 35% reported having a household income less than $15,000, and 41% reported being married. Whereas 39% agreed or strongly

Discussion and conclusions

The current study illustrates a considerable amount of CAM usage among patients with epilepsy in the midwestern United States. Specifically, prayer/spirituality was the most commonly used CAM for the treatment of seizures in patients with epilepsy, followed by stress management, then “mega” vitamins. The type of complementary therapy chosen, especially prayer/spirituality, is highly influenced by sociocultural factors [8]. In a South Korean study on the use of CAM by patients with epilepsy, 70%

Acknowledgments

The authors recognize the Via Christi Comprehensive Epilepsy Center and the University of Kansas School of Medicine—Wichita for supporting this research.

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Pattern and frequency of use of complementary and alternative medicine among patients with epilepsy in the midwestern United States

Abstract

Introduction

Section snippets

Participants and instrument

Results

Discussion and conclusions

Acknowledgments

Epilepsy Behav

Epilepsy Behav

Epilepsy Behav

Ann Emerg Med

Epilepsy Behav

Epilepsy Behav

Complementary and alternative medicine in Pakistan: prospects and limitations

Evid Based Complement Alternat Med

Trends in alternative medicine use in the United States, 1990–1997: results of a follow-up national survey

JAMA

Yoga for epilepsy

Cochrane Database Syst Rev

Complementary/alternative medicine for epilepsy in Arizona

Neurology