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.

  • Recent Posts

  • Recent Comments

    Psychological treatment for cystic fibrosis

    Cochrane reviewers report, “no clear evidence exists on the best psychological interventions to help people with cystic fibrosis.”

    First, the details.

    • The reviewers identified 13 studies of 529 participants.
    • Treatments included the following.
      • Gene pre-test education counseling for relatives of those with cystic fibrosis
      • Biofeedback, massage and music therapy to assist physiotherapy
      • Behavioral and educational interventions to improve diet and airway clearance
      • Self-administration of medication and education to promote independence, knowledge and quality of life
      • Systemic interventions promoting psychosocial functioning

    And, the results.

    • There was no consistent effect on lung function, although one small study reported biofeedback-assisted breathing re-training helped improve some lung function measurements.
    • There’s some evidence that relatives accept genetic testing for carrier status using home-based information leaflets and testing.
    • Some evidence that behavioral therapy improves emotional outcomes in people with cystic fibrosis and their caregivers.
    • Psychoeducational treatment improves knowledge in the short term.
    • It also appears that educational and behavioral treatments can aid nutrition and growth.

    The bottom line?
    10 years ago, the life expectancy of a person with cystic fibrosis was about 18 years. Today it’s 35 years.

    As people with cystic fibrosis survive longer, there’s a need to identify treatments to help them meet their needs and improve long-term management. The treatments reviewed here are largely concerned with those issues.

    Obviously, more work in this area is needed.

    7/26/08 19:40 JR

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