Complementary medicines in psychiatry: review of effectiveness and safety.
The British journal of psychiatry : the journal of mental science February 1, 2006 Ursula Werneke, Trevor Turner, Stefan Priebe 98 citations
Complementary medicines are commonly used by people with mental health problems, but their effectiveness is often unproven and they may not be as harmless as assumed. A review of the literature found potentially useful substances: ginkgo and hydergine as cognitive enhancers, passion flower and valerian as sedatives, St John's wort and s-adenosylmethionine as antidepressants, and selenium and folate to complement antidepressants. Evidence is less conclusive for omega-3 fatty acids in schizophrenia, melatonin for tardive dyskinesia, and an ibogaine derivative for addiction. Systematic clinical trials are needed, and users should seek appropriate advice.