Complementary & Alternative Medicine

I just recently had the chance to speak to Dr. Philip Muskin, a renowned psychiatrist and head of Consultation-Liaison Services at Columbia University Medical Center. Dr. Muskin, together with colleagues Drs. Richard Brown and Patricia Gerbag, just published a book on using complementary and alternative medicine in mental health care.

The book covers the use of different herbs, Yoga, breathing techniques, and nutrients for a vast array of mental health issues, for example, Depression, Anxiety, Memory Difficulties, and Substance Abuse. In addition, these methods can be really helpful for people who are experiencing side effect from medications. What’s really impressive about the book is the amount research literature the authors have reviewed, together with the way by which they integrate these research finding with their ample clinical experiences, and the useful vignettes they offer.

Personality Disorders per se are not covered in the book, however, some difficulties that people with Personality Disorders often experience, such as symptoms of depression, stress, or anxiety are addressed in considerable depth. So, is there room for using complementary and alternative methods in the treatment of people with Personality Disorders?

“Currently, there is no one established pharmacological treatment for Personality Disorders”, says Dr. Muskin, “We use antipsychotic and antidepressant medication to help with components of the symptoms. One of the main issues with Personality Disorders is stress, and complementary and alternative medicine do have a lot to offer in that regard. Breathing techniques and mindfulness practices are very effective. The point is to show people different ways of dealing with things, and to get them to accept the stress of what it means to be them. ”