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Phytotherapy in psychiatry: why psychiatrists should know about it

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 October 2024

Guilherme Frederico Miranda Lacerda ,
Paulo César Oliviera ,
Maria Aparecida Barbato Frazão Vital ,
Helvo Slomp Junior ,
José Carlos Fernandes Galduróz  and
Roberto Andreatini Open the ORCID record for Roberto Andreatini [Opens in a new window]
Guilherme Frederico Miranda Lacerda
Affiliation:
Department of Pharmacology, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, PR, Brazil
Paulo César Oliviera
Affiliation:
Department of Pharmacology, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, PR, Brazil
Maria Aparecida Barbato Frazão Vital
Affiliation:
Department of Pharmacology, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, PR, Brazil
Helvo Slomp Junior
Affiliation:
Department of Public, Mental and Family Health, Multidisciplinary Center, Institute of Medical Sciences, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ)/UFRJ-Macaé, RJ, Brazil
José Carlos Fernandes Galduróz
Affiliation:
Department of Psychobiology, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
Roberto Andreatini*
Affiliation:
Department of Pharmacology, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, PR, Brazil
*
Corresponding author: Roberto Andreatini; Email: [email protected]
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Abstract

There is a substantial use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) among both the general population and psychiatric patients, with only a minority of these users disclosing this information to their healthcare providers, including physicians and psychiatrists. This widespread use of CAM can impact positively or negatively on the clinical outcomes of psychiatric patients, and it is often done along with conventional medicines. Among CAM, phytotherapy has a major clinical relevance due to the introduction of potential adverse effects and drug interactions. Thus, the psychiatrist must learn about phytotherapy and stay up-to-date with solid scientific knowledge about phytotherapeutics/herbal medicines to ensure optimal outcomes for their patients. Furthermore, questions about herbal medicines should be routinely asked to psychiatric patients. Finally, scientifically sound research must be conducted on this subject.

Keywords

Adverse effectsherb-drug interactionsmental disordersphytotherapypsychiatry
Type
Perspective
Information
Acta Neuropsychiatrica , Volume 36 , Issue 4 , August 2024 , pp. 189 - 194
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Copyright
© The Author(s), 2024. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of Scandinavian College of Neuropsychopharmacology

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