J Korean Neuropsychiatr Assoc.  2001 Nov;40(6):1031-1043.

The Survey of the Concept about Using Herb-Medication & the Effect on Treatment-Seeking Behavior in Psychiatric and Non-Psychiatric Patients

• Jung IK
• Kim JS
• Lee HS
• Ryu SH
• Kwak DI

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
The anthors examined health-seeking behavior about using herbal medicine in psyciatric and other clinical patients. The effect, side effect and motives in selecting herbal medicine were examined also. This study aimed at presenting treatment guide for psychiatric patients hereafter. METHOD: Subjects were consisted of 277 patients who were 93 medical, 81 surgical, and 102 psyhiatric patients. We made a questionnaire checking circumstances on taking herbal medicine. The investigating psychiatrist conducted person to person semi-structured interview using this questionnaire.
RESULTS
Psychiatric patients preferred herbal medicine to western medicine, as other clinical patients did. In their health seeking behavior, classical illness model of oriental herbal medicine occupied a central position. In addition, psychiatric patients not only regarded herbal medicine as a more symtom-specific therapeutic medication, but also accepted side effects of herbal medicine uncritically than other clinical patients.
CONCLUSIONS
As it is known that many psychiatric patients take both oriental and western medical treatment, we should not have exclusive attitude to emphasize one side between oriental and western medicine. Rather, we should deepen our understandings about oriental herbal medicine.

Keyword

Health-seeking behavior; Illness model; Oriental medicine; Herb medicine

MeSH Terms

Herbal Medicine
Humans
Medicine, East Asian Traditional
Psychiatry
Surveys and Questionnaires