Utilization of herbal and nutritional compounds among older adults with bipolar disorder and with major depression

Herbal and nutritional compounds (HNC) are widely used among geriatric populations with depression, however little data exists on HNC use in older populations with bipolar disorder. The goal of this study was to evaluate orally- ingested HNC use in individuals with bipolar disorder and with major depression.

This was a cross-sectional analysis of self-reported factual knowledge of HNC, individual perspective on efficacy and safety of HNC, patterns of HNC use, and discussion of HNC with health care providers in 50 older adults with bipolar disorder and 50 older adults with major depression.

In this sample, approximately 30% of older individuals with depression or bipolar disorder used orally- ingested HNC. Over 40% of older adults believed that HNC is FDA-regulated and 14-20% preferred to take HNC compared to physician-prescribed psychotropic medications. Use of HNC was more common among older adults with bipolar disorder (44%) compared to older adults with major depression (16%, p = 0.003). The majority of older adults with mood disorders (64%) had not discussed use of HNC with their treating physicians.

Orally ingested HNC was used by nearly one in three older adults with mood disorders, and was more common among those with bipolar disorder compared to those with major depression. Most individuals did not discuss HNC use with their physicians. Clinicians need to assess for HNC use, particularly with respect to potential drug-drug interactions.