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Junker,
J. Oberwittler C., Jackson, D., Berger, K. (2004). Utilization
and perceived effectiveness of complementary and alternative
medicine in patients with dystonia. Movement Disorders, 19,
156-161.
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Abstract:
One hundred eighty dystonia patients within the German
Dystonia Society completed a questionnaire regarding use and
perceived effectiveness of complementary and alternative therapies.
Cervical dystonia represented 41% of the sample, facial dystonias
37%, writer's cramp 7%, spasmodic dysphonia 7%, generalized
dystonia 5%, and other forms 3%. Of these 180 patients, 131
(73%) reported some use of CAM. The most commonly used techniques
were acupuncture, relaxation techniques, homeopathy, massage,
and detoxification. Perceived effectiveness was highest for
breathing therapy (62% of users reported a positive effect),
Feldenkrais method (55%), massages (44%), and relaxation techniques
(43%). There was no correlation between expense and perceived
effectiveness. Most patients also had experience with conventional
treatment. Of 156 surveyed patients who had received BTX-A,
60% judged its efficacy to be good to very good. The main
motivations for using CAM were unsuccessful conventional treatment
(33%), recommendation (28%), and lack of dystonia diagnosis
at time of treatment (38%).
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