CAM for depression, anxiety, grief, and other symptoms in palliative care

Abstract

In the course of an oncologic disease, importance of the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) increases, especially if tumour-specific therapy can no longer cure or at least mitigate progression of the disease. This review deals with reviews and recent studies on CAM methods often used for the treatment of psychological distress, especially depression, and anxiety which together with fatigue so often severely reduce quality of life in the advanced palliative situation. Some yoga techniques, acupuncture, some massage techniques, and aromatherapy may have short-lasting positive effects on depression. Anxiety may be treated successfully by some yoga techniques, music therapy, mindfulness-based stress reduction, acupuncture, some massage techniques, and aromatherapy. Fatigue may respond to acupuncture. Exercise seems to be a valuable option at least in patients who are not in the advanced stage of their disease, while ginseng even may harm. However, the studies are often limited due to small size, lack of control, short duration, and nonspecific aspects.