Attitude toward and practice of using traditional Chinese medicine in psychiatry: A mixed study of forty-nine leading psychiatrists in China

Introduction Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is used to treat mental illnesses but attitudes to its use may vary. This study aimed to explore the attitude towards, and practice of, TCM among leading Chinese psychiatrists, and to explore the possibility of future TCM-psychiatry cooperation. Methods Psychiatrists who were committee members of two major academic and professional associations considered to be leading psychiatrists were sent an online questionnaire which focused on their attitudes towards and their practice of using TCM. Results A total of 49 responses (a 50% response rate) were received. Many leading psychiatrists had prescribed TCM and had recommended TCM to junior psychiatrists. The respondents showed a mild positive attitude of TCM. Being used as an adjunct therapy (t = 7.65, P 0.05). Respondents who recommended TCM to junior psychiatrists showed a significantly more positive attitude than those who did not (t = 5.42, P Conclusions Future TCM-biomedicine cooperation in China is potentially feasible because the leading psychiatrists hold a broadly positive attitude towards the use of TCM in psychiatry. However, more quality evidence and academic exchange are needed.