Complementary medicine in psychology practice: an analysis of Australian psychology guidelines and a comparison with other psychology associations from English speaking countries.

Thomson-Casey, C; Adams, J; McIntyre, E

Complementary medicine in psychology practice: an analysis of Australian psychology guidelines and a comparison with other psychology associations from English speaking countries.

Thomson-Casey, C

Adams, J

McIntyre, E

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Publisher:: BMC
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: BMC Complement Med Ther, 2022, 22, (1), pp. 171
Issue Date:: 2022-06-25

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Thomson-Casey, C https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4682-0480
dc.contributor.author	Adams, J https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9901-5717
dc.contributor.author	McIntyre, E https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3970-9979
dc.date.accessioned	2022-08-07T04:39:20Z
dc.date.available	2022-05-12
dc.date.available	2022-08-07T04:39:20Z
dc.date.issued	2022-06-25
dc.identifier.citation	BMC Complement Med Ther, 2022, 22, (1), pp. 171
dc.identifier.issn	2662-7671
dc.identifier.issn	2662-7671
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/159725
dc.description.abstract	BACKGROUND: Psychologists, and their clients, are engaging with complementary medicine (CM). Increasing evidence for CM approaches, such as improved nutrition and St John's wort, has led to their inclusion in the Royal Australian New Zealand College of Psychiatrists clinical practice guidelines for mood disorders. This research aims to determine in what ways, and to what extent, Australian psychology regulatory bodies and associations consider CM relevant to psychology practice. Specifically, how these regulatory bodies and professional association's ethical and practice guidelines engage with CM. METHODS: Documents from Australian regulatory bodies and professional associations, that relate to the governance or guidance of psychologists' clinical practice, were systematically searched for key terms relating to CM. RESULTS: There were no direct references to CM in the 58 ethical and practice guidelines reviewed. There was also no reference to the relevance of CM to ethnocultural groups, such as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander traditional healing practices. CONCLUSION: While other mental health care disciplines are working toward integrating CM, the discipline of psychology in Australia is not currently engaged in such developments. Given the exponential rise of CM use amongst those with mental health problems, psychology associations should consider developing resources and guidelines to assist psychologists in navigating CM in relation to clinical practice to help minimise risks, such as patient safety associated with concurrent CM use.
dc.format	Electronic
dc.language	eng
dc.publisher	BMC
dc.relation.ispartof	BMC Complement Med Ther
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1186/s12906-022-03620-2
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.subject.mesh	Australia
dc.subject.mesh	Complementary Therapies
dc.subject.mesh	Humans
dc.subject.mesh	Practice, Psychological
dc.subject.mesh	Humans
dc.subject.mesh	Complementary Therapies
dc.subject.mesh	Australia
dc.subject.mesh	Practice, Psychological
dc.title	Complementary medicine in psychology practice: an analysis of Australian psychology guidelines and a comparison with other psychology associations from English speaking countries.
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	22
utslib.location.activity	England
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/DVC (Research)
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/DVC (Research)/Institute For Sustainable Futures
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Strength - CHSP - Health Services and Practice
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health/Public Health
utslib.copyright.status	open_access	*
dc.date.updated	2022-08-07T04:39:17Z
pubs.issue	1
pubs.publication-status	Published online
pubs.volume	22
utslib.citation.issue	1

Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Psychologists, and their clients, are engaging with complementary medicine (CM). Increasing evidence for CM approaches, such as improved nutrition and St John's wort, has led to their inclusion in the Royal Australian New Zealand College of Psychiatrists clinical practice guidelines for mood disorders. This research aims to determine in what ways, and to what extent, Australian psychology regulatory bodies and associations consider CM relevant to psychology practice. Specifically, how these regulatory bodies and professional association's ethical and practice guidelines engage with CM. METHODS: Documents from Australian regulatory bodies and professional associations, that relate to the governance or guidance of psychologists' clinical practice, were systematically searched for key terms relating to CM. RESULTS: There were no direct references to CM in the 58 ethical and practice guidelines reviewed. There was also no reference to the relevance of CM to ethnocultural groups, such as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander traditional healing practices. CONCLUSION: While other mental health care disciplines are working toward integrating CM, the discipline of psychology in Australia is not currently engaged in such developments. Given the exponential rise of CM use amongst those with mental health problems, psychology associations should consider developing resources and guidelines to assist psychologists in navigating CM in relation to clinical practice to help minimise risks, such as patient safety associated with concurrent CM use.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/159725