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2. Natural Medications in Psychiatry
David Mischoulon, MD, PhD
Director, Depression Clinical and Research Program
Massachusetts General Hospital
Professor of Psychiatry Harvard Medical School

3. General Remarks: Natural and Complementary Therapies
>70%
People not responding to standard therapies
 will try them
Easily obtained
over the counter
Well tolerated
Few side effects
Mischoulon, D. (2009). Update and critique of natural remedies as antidepressant treatments. Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinics of North America, 36(4), 789–807.

4. Less research compared to approved medications
Effectiveness unclear; how they compare to approved therapies or placebos 
Concerns about toxic reactions, adverse effects, and interactions with other drugs 
Variation in regard to preparation, purity, and active ingredients
Not covered by medical insurance plans
Mischoulon, D. (2009). Update and critique of natural remedies as antidepressant treatments. Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinics of North America, 36(4), 789–807.

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