This research investigated the use of alternative therapies by individuals with physical
disabilities.
A telephone survey of a cross-sectional convenience sample of people with disabilities.
An urban, outpatient rehabilitation facility specializing in vocational services.
A convenience sample of 401 working-age individuals.
Self-reported use of alternative therapy.
More of this sample of individuals with physical disabilities than a randomized, national
sample of the general population used alternative therapies (57.1% vs 34%) and saw
providers of those therapies (22% vs 10%). Among individuals in the current sample,
significant positive relationships between use of alternative therapies and education
and income levels were discovered. The use of alternative therapies by this sample,
however, was not associated with racial identity, gender, or age. Compared with the
general population, this study's respondents reported a higher proportion of chronic
pain (14% vs 8%) and depression (14% vs 8%), and a lower proportion of severe headache
(9.2% vs 13%). Alternative therapies were chosen more often than conventional therapies
by those with physical disabilities for pain (51.8% vs 33.9%), depression (33.9% vs
25%), anxiety (42.1% vs 13.1%), insomnia (32.3% vs 16.1%), and headaches (51.4% vs
18.9%).
Physically disabled individuals are more likely to use alternative therapies than
the general population and to see providers for them, have their use recommended by
their physicians, and be reimbursed by their health insurance for them. A high prevalence
of dysphoria is found among those with disabilities, for which a combination of alternative
and conventional therapies is often used.