Blending Two Worlds: Traditional Aboriginal Healing Strategies for Depression and Anxiety

Depression Clinical Trial

— B2W  

Official title:

Blending Two Worlds: Traditional Aboriginal Healing Strategies for Depression and Anxiety. Possible Options for Children, Youth and Families

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Terminated

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT00749177
• Other study ID #: FHA-MHA-B2W
• Status: Terminated
• Phase: N/A
• First received: September 5, 2008
• Last updated: March 4, 2015
• Start date: November 2008
• Est. completion date: August 2011

Study information

• Verified date: March 2015
• Source: Fraser Health
• Contact: n/a
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Health authority: Canada: Health Canada
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial Summary

1. Purpose

1. Provide a culturally sensitive and supportive treatment environment for children, youth and families in the aboriginal community experiencing stress, anxiety and depression.

2. Gain insight into understanding of the role of Traditional Healing options provided by Aboriginal Healers and Helpers in the management of stress, anxiety and depression.

3. Encourage Aboriginal and First Nation clients to seek treatment earlier from a culturally supportive system.

2. Hypothesis

This will be a descriptive hypothesis generating research project, however it is anticipated that members of the Aboriginal community experiencing stress, anxiety and depression may experience improved care and outcomes if their treatment includes traditional healing methods. A number of measures of subject and treatment characteristics, stress, anxiety and depression will provide the foundation for triangulation of outcomes in order to describe the impact of the various treatment options (standard care, Traditional Healing, combined standard care and Traditional Healing).

Description:

Aboriginal clients, including first nation youth, may not be confident or comfortable with the standard treatments offered by the current Mental Health environment. Incorporating traditional aboriginal healing methods such as dream work, energy healing, healing circles, pipe ceremonies, self care, smudging, sweat lodge and traditional learning into standard practice will provide a culturally sensitive and supportive environment for children, youth and families experiencing stress, anxiety and depression.

It is believed that Aboriginal and First Nation clients that access treatment options consistent with cultural beliefs will be encouraged to seek treatment earlier and will experience improved care and outcomes.

In addition, the improved understanding of the role of traditional healing methods provided by Aboriginal Healers and Helpers in the management of these disorders will help clinicians incorporate these practices in the management of anxiety and depression

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Terminated
• Enrollment: 4
• Est. completion date: August 2011
• Est. primary completion date: August 2011
• Accepts healthy volunteers: No
• Gender: Both
• Age group: N/A to 18 Years

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

• children and adolescents (less than 18 years of age)and families with anxiety and/or depression attending the Surrey North Child and Youth Mental Health Team.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Subjects with severe anxiety or depression requiring intervention (i.e. hospitalization) or have a past or present history of suicide attempt. Subjects with special needs including medical contraindications (i.e. medical conditions including pregnancy), brain injury, developmental disability or fetal alcohol syndrome). Those subjects unwilling or unable to participate in a Traditional Healing options.

Study Design

Allocation: Non-Randomized, Endpoint Classification: Safety/Efficacy Study, Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment, Masking: Open Label, Primary Purpose: Screening

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Anxiety
• Anxiety Disorders
• Depression
• Depressive Disorder

Intervention

Other:
• Traditional Healing options
Dream work, energy healing, healing circles, pipe ceremonies, self care, smudging, sweat lodges and traditional learning.

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
Canada	Child and Youth Mental Health, Surrey North	Surrey	British Columbia

Sponsors (2)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
Fraser Health	Ministry of Children and Family Development, British Columbia

Country where clinical trial is conducted

Canada, 

References & Publications (6)

Buchwald D, Beals J, Manson SM. Use of traditional health practices among Native Americans in a primary care setting. Med Care. 2000 Dec;38(12):1191-9. — View Citation

Buehler JA. Traditional Crow Indian health beliefs and practices. Toward a grounded theory. J Holist Nurs. 1992 Mar;10(1):18-33. — View Citation

Dapice AN. The medicine wheel. J Transcult Nurs. 2006 Jul;17(3):251-60. — View Citation

Hunter L, Logan J, Barton S, Goulet JG. Linking aboriginal healing traditions to holistic nursing practice. J Holist Nurs. 2004 Sep;22(3):267-85. Review. — View Citation

Struthers R, Hodge FS. Sacred tobacco use in Ojibwe communities. J Holist Nurs. 2004 Sep;22(3):209-25. — View Citation

Zubek EM. Traditional Native healing. Alternative or adjunct to modern medicine? Can Fam Physician. 1994 Nov;40:1923-31. — View Citation

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	Provide Aboriginal and First Nation youth and their families with treatment options consistent with cultural beliefs. Improving outcomes in the management of anxiety and depression.		Within one year	Yes
Secondary	1. Encourage Aboriginal and First Nation clients to seek treatment earlier from a culturally supportive system. 2. Validate the benefit of traditional diet and healing methods in the treatment of stress, anxiety and depression		Within 2 years	Yes