Complementary and Integrative Treatments in Psychiatric Practice

Strengths: This book exposes the reader to a wide array ofdiverse treatment options that are not ordinarily taught during medicaltraining but that are nonetheless often utilized in the general population.The editors and authors have an evidence-based focus, while often providinginformation on specific indications, contraindications, and mechanisms ofaction, as well as dosing tips. The index is particularly useful in helpingreaders sort through the book, and patient anecdotes help the readerenvision practical applications for the information. Deficiencies: In anattempt to provide a comprehensive overview of complementary and integrativetreatments in psychiatry, the book at times crosses the line betweenproviding depth of information and being too dense making it difficult forreaders to easily access and use the information. Rather than being readcover to cover, this book may be more suitable for use with the index tosearch for specific topics of interest as they pertain to patient care.Recommended Readership: This book would be a useful resource forpsychiatrists or primary care providers, including residents andfellows.

I have sought quality resources on CAIM treatments inpsychiatry (and specifically child and adolescent psychiatry) for 15 yearsand would recommend this book from Gerbarg, Muskin and Brown as a greatintroduction to the Western medicine-trained physician seeking guidance onevidence-based support for CAIM treatments. However, because of the paucityof evidence on many treatments included in CAIM, the authors fail toprioritize some foundational aspects of treatment and tend to emphasizelesser known and more infrequently used modalities.

This is a well-referenced, reliable resource that reviewsmany of the available CAIM interventions. While a good percentage of ourpatients are already using CAIM, many of our patients do not respond to ortolerate traditional treatments. It therefore behooves us to be familiarwith these interventions so we can responsibly guide and makerecommendations to our patients.

Patricia L. Gerbarg, M.D., is Assistant ClinicalProfessor of Psychiatry at New York Medical College in Valhalla, NewYork.

Philip R. Muskin, M.D., M.A., is Professor of Psychiatryat Columbia University Medical Center in New York, NewYork.

Richard P. Brown, M.D., is Associate ClinicalProfessor of Psychiatry at Columbia University College of Physicians andSurgeons in New York, New York.

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