Integrative medicine for treating depression: an update on the latest evidence

Integrative medicine (IntM) is a growing medical trend combining conventional medical approaches with evidence-based complementary therapies to promote well-being. Over half of individuals with depression use some form of IntM for symptom management. The purpose of the current study was to critically review the scientific evidence for IntM techniques in treating adult unipolar depression. We examined randomized controlled trials, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses published in the last one to three years using PsychINFO, PubMed, and Cochrane Library databases. The strongest evidence currently exists for mindfulness-based interventions and St. John's Wort (SJW) as monotherapies, and there is relatively strong evidence to support the use of omega-3 fatty acids and exercise as adjunct therapies. However, there remains an overall lack of methodologically rigorous research to support the efficacy of many other IntM techniques. Providers should be aware that many patients use IntM techniques for depression treatment and inquire regularly about such use.