The C.A.M. Report
Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Fair, Balanced, and to the Point
  • About this web log

    This blog ran from 2006 to 2016 and was intended as an objective and dispassionate source of information on the latest CAM research. Since my background is in pharmacy and allopathic medicine, I view all CAM as advancing through the development pipeline to eventually become integrated into mainstream medical practice. Some will succeed while others fail. But all are treated fairly here.

  • About the author

    John Russo, Jr., PharmD, is president of The MedCom Resource, Inc. Previously, he was senior vice president of medical communications at www.Vicus.com, a complementary and alternative medicine website.

  • Common sense considerations

    The material on this weblog is for informational purposes. It is not medical advice or counsel. Be smart, consult your health professional before using CAM.

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  • Recent Comments

    Using videotape to treat alcoholics with delirium tremens

    Alcoholics who watch themselves after a bout of delirium tremens (DTs; a potentially fatal form of alcohol withdrawal), have less severe relapses and consume less alcohol.

    Here are the details.

    • 60 patients with at least 3 years of severe alcohol dependence were videotaped during the acute phase of DTs.
    • Both groups received the same treatment.
    • Later, some got to watch themselves on tape with a narration by a psychiatrist, while others did not.

    And the results.

    • Patients who watched themselves on videotape had significantly lower relapse rates during the following 3 months.
    • They also drank less alcohol.

    During my residency at the Kansas City General Hospital and later at the Truman Medical Center, I participated in the treatment of lots of alcoholics with DTs. It’s pretty gross, and I guess when given a chance, the patients agree it is not their finest moment.

    4/19/07 17:12 JR

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