Citation

Ventegodt S, Merrick J. J. Complement. Integr. Med. 2009; 6(1).

Copyright

(Copyright © 2009, Walter de Gruyter)

DOI

10.2202/1553-3840.1156

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Review of side effects of psychotherapy, bodywork (without high-energy manipulations), mind-body medicine, body-psychotherapy, sexology, clinical holistic medicine and complementary and alternative medicine (CAM).

METHOD: We reviewed 857 records from a combined Medline/PubMed and PsycINFO search on ? Psychotherapy AND side effectsWe also searched for ? Mind-body medicine,? Bodywork,? Body-psychotherapy,? Clinical holistic medicine,?CAM,? Sexology,? Sexological examination,?physiotherapy,and specific side effects like ?psychosis,? Re-traumatization,?suicide, hypomania,?depersonalisation,? Derealizationand the drugs Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD-25), ?psilosybin,?mescaline,? Peyoteand MDMA (3,4-methylenedioxy-N-methamphetamine (MDMA) for searches. We looked for all case reports 1950-2009 and studies that included data on side effects and negative events.

RESULTS: Non-drug medicine did not have significant side effects (NNH (number needed to harm)> 18,000) and the only severe side effect was rare, brief reactive psychosis, a temporary illness with full recovery (NNH >65,000). Non-drug therapy did not significantly cause re-traumatization, implanted memories, or induction of suicide (NNH>100,000). The most intensive psychotherapy enhanced with psychotropic (hallucinogenic) drugs had serious, but rare side effects and only for the mentally ill, psychiatric patients: brief reactive psychosis (NNH=556), suicide attempts (NNH=833), and suicide (NNH=2,500).

CONCLUSIONS: Non-drug (non-pharmaceutical) medicine seems to be safe even for seriously physically and mentally ill patients and, whenever efficient, therefore recommended as treatment of choice. Copyright © 2009 The Berkeley Electronic Press. All rights reserved.

Language: en

Keywords

memory; human; suicide; psychotherapy; depression; psychosis; acupressure; suicide attempt; hospitalization; Psychotherapy; philosophy; Adverse effects; review; mental disease; fracture; behavior therapy; psychotropic agent; electroconvulsive therapy; alternative medicine; massage; intensive care; information processing; 3,4 methylenedioxymethamphetamine; hypomania; lysergide; physiotherapy; Side effects; clinical medicine; convalescence; spine injury; depersonalization; iatrogenic disease; unspecified side effect; mescaline; bodywork; Clinical holistic medicine; chiropractic; Body-psychotherapy; Bodywork; complementary and alternative medicine (CAM); Complementary medicine; Integrative medicine; Psychosocial medicine; retraumatization; sexology