In:
British Journal of Psychiatry, Royal College of Psychiatrists, Vol. 190, No. 5 ( 2007-05), p. 379-384
Abstract:
Chinese herbal medicine has been used to treat millions of people with schizophrenia for thousands of years. Aims To evaluate Chinese herbal medicine as a treatment for schizophrenia. Method A systematic review of randomised controlled trials (RCTs). Results Seven trials were included. Most studies evaluated Chinese herbal medicine in combination with Western antipsychotic drugs; in these trials results tended to favour combination treatment compared with antipsychotic alone (Clinical Global Impression ‘not improved/worse’ n= 123, RR=0.19, 95% CI 0.1-0.6, NNT=6,95% CI 5–11; n =109, Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale ‘not improved/worse’ RR=0.78,95% CI 0.5-1.2; n =109, Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms ‘not improved/worse’ RR=0.87,95% CI 0.7-1.2; n= 109, Scale for the Assessment of Positive Symptoms ‘not improved/worse’ RR=0.69,95% CI 0.5-1.0, NNT=6 95% CI 4-162). Medium-term study attrition was significantly less for people allocated the herbal/antipsychotic mix (n =897, four RCTs, RR=0.34,95% CI 0.2–0.7, NNT=23,95% CI 18-43). Conclusions Results suggest that combining Chinese herbal medicine with antipsychotics is beneficial.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
0007-1250
,
1472-1465
DOI:
10.1192/bjp.bp.106.026880
Language:
English
Publisher:
Royal College of Psychiatrists
Publication Date:
2007
detail.hit.zdb_id:
2021500-9
Permalink