Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) following traumatic brain injury (TBI): Opportunities and challenges

• Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is highly prevalent and occurs in a variety of populations. Because of the complexity of its sequelae, treatment strategies pose a challenge. Given this complexity, TBI provides a unique target of opportunity for complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) treatments. The present review describes and discusses current opportunitites and challenges associated with CAM research and clinical applications in civilian, veteran and military service populations. In addition to a brief overview of CAM, the translational capacity from basic to clinical research to clinical practice will be described. Finally, a systematic approach to developing an adoptable evidence base, with proof of effectiveness based on the literature will be discussed. Inherent in this discussion will be the methodological and ethical challenges associated with CAM research in those with TBI and associated comorbidities, specifically in terms of how these challenges relate to practice and policy issues, implementation and dissemination. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled SI:Brain injury and recovery.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Neurologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Neurology (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Acupressure

Meditation

Mindfulness based stress reduction (MBSR)

Mantram

Traumatic brain injury

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM)

posttraumatic-stress-disorder

randomized controlled-trial

mantram

repetition program

large military cohort

quality-of-life

relaxation

response

united-states

health-care

tai-chi

postconcussive symptoms

Neurosciences & Neurology

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)