Chapter ch01. Critical Thinking Exercise

Holistic Approaches to Medicine

Less than one-third of the world utilizes evidenced-based biomedical approaches to treatment of disease and other medical issues, such as trauma and injury. The majority of the world practices alternative or holistic forms of treatment. A biomedical approach, or conventional medicine, is usually practiced by medical doctors or doctors of osteopathy who have a medical degree and a license to practice. Alternative medicine, on the other hand, includes a range of practices that may not be taught in conventional medical schools and are not likely to be reimbursed by health insurance carriers. Some of the alternative approaches may also be considered holistic. Holistic medicine focuses on physical health, but also addresses the emotional, spiritual, social, and psychological aspects of illness. Examples of holistic approaches include: natural remedies, acupuncture, massage therapy, and dietary or lifestyle changes.

The American Psychological Association recently published an article in Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, titled “The Integration of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) Into the Practice of Psychology: A Vision for the Future” (2012) that examined the utility of integrating various types of medical approaches in the practice of psychology.

Barnett, J.E., & Shale, A.J. (2012) The integration of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) into the practice of psychology: A vision for the future. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 43, 576-585.