Back Pain Remedy and Serious Mental Illness

Back pain remedy and Serious Mental Illness (SMI): A Survey of Perceived Benefits of Alternative Care Medicine

The following report in the American Journal of Public Health in 2002, presented findings of the perceived benefits of alternative care medicine found in patients suffering from serious mental illness (SMI).  An internet survey was conducted in patients suffering from such illnesses and what alternative medicine they sought for treatment, as well as effectiveness.  By utilizing an open-coded process, responses could be grouped into particular benefit categories.  Response group categories consists of: elevated emotional stability, higher concentration , elevated inner strength/empowerment and elevated self-image.  Of the 157 sample individuals (mostly middle-aged), a majority were white and female. 

Mental Illness

Disorders present among participants included bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.  86% of the sample participants noted that multiple practices aided in relieving the disorder they presented.  Religious and Spiritual practice existed as the most common practice (52%), while chiropractic was 13%.  Although the percentage of chiropractic participants in the study survey was low, the evidence shows a representation of a positive effect in the use of CAM therapies for a back pain remedy in the treatment of people with psycho-social disorders, such as bipolar disorder.