Date of Award
7-2009
Document Type
Independent Study
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Abstract
The American Indian population shows the highest percent of lifetime major depression at 19.17 percent compared to other ethnic groups in the United States. Anxiety among American Indians is ten times higher than other ethnic groups. Because of these statistics, American Indians also have a suicide rate that is 1.5 times higher than the national average. Unfortunately, due to a lack of funding and qualified health care provides for American Indians, improper and insufficient diagnosing and treatment for these diseases causes burden for suffers and their families. Several studies suggest that American Indians are the highest users of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in the United States. Using CAM as an alternative to Western medicine could help decrease the prevalence and lifetime suffering of depression and anxiety especially if they used traditional American Indian healing ceremonies. A literature review was conducted to find out what CAM therapies may be used to treat depression and anxiety. Scant research has been done involving American Indians sufferers with depression and anxiety. There is also a tack of research involving Traditional American Indian healing ceremonies as a possible CAM therapy. This report discusses the significance, literature review, conclusions and recommendations of the findings
Recommended Citation
Allery, Rhea N., "Complementary and Alternative Therapy among American Indians Suffering from Depression and Anxiety" (2009). Theses and Dissertations. 4885.
https://commons.und.edu/theses/4885