by Tim Brunson, PhD

Nobel laureate and quantum physicist Niels Bohr once said, "Prediction is very difficult, especially about the future." Attempting to look over the horizon toward the future of clinical hypnotherapy – as well as its implication concerning the totality of human transformation – is indeed a very difficult task. This is even more so as hypnotherapy is still an emerging field, which is far from receiving the cultural authority presently accorded professions such as medicine and psychology. Regardless, our value is rapidly gaining ground at the same time as scientific theory and technological innovations are revolutionizing how humans think and interact.

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OBJECTIVES: The prevalence of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use among women in the United States is high. Little is known about how CAM use may differ based on sexual orientation. Study aims were to measure the prevalence of CAM use in a community sample of women, explore differences in CAM use patterns by sexual orientation, and identify correlates of CAM use. DESIGN/SUBJECTS: Analyses were based on women (Total N?=?879; n?=?479 lesbians) enrolled in the Epidemiologic STudy of HEalth Risk in Women (ESTHER) Project, a cross-sectional heart-disease risk-factor study. SETTINGS/LOCATION: Data were collected through convenience sampling of adult females in Pittsburgh, PA (2003-2006). OUTCOME MEASURES: Main outcome measures included lifetime and past 12-month CAM use, and types of CAM modalities used in the past 12 months. RESULTS: The prevalence of having ever used CAM was 49.8%, with 42% having reported CAM use within the past 12 months. Lesbians had greater odds of having ever used CAM (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]?=?1.68 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.23, 2.28]) and of having used CAM in the past 12 months (AOR?=?1.44 [CI: 1.06, 1.97]) than heterosexuals. In multivariate analyses, correlates of lifetime and past 12-month CAM use included being lesbian, white, higher educated, and a large-city resident; experiencing perceived discrimination in a health care setting; and having a greater spirituality rating and a history of a diagnosed mental health disorder. Past 12-month CAM use was also associated with having a provider of usual health care. Among women who used CAM within the past 12 months, heterosexuals had significantly higher yoga participation rates than lesbians. CONCLUSIONS: Sexual orientation is important in understanding lifetime and past 12-month CAM use. Because of the high prevalence of CAM use found in this study, medical practitioners should inquire about the CAM practices of female patients, particularly lesbians.

(Pittsburgh, PA, 2003-2006). J Altern Complement Med. 2010 Nov;16(11):1161-70. Smith HA, Matthews A, Markovic N, Youk A, Danielson ME, Talbott EO. Department of Epidemiology, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, 230 McKee Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA. Smithha@upmc.edu