TheConsortiumofAcademicHealthCenters for Integrative Medicine (CAHCIM) has chosen to highlight developments in integrative mental health. According to a recent notice to members, the CAHCIM executive committee approved establishment of a sub-group of the CAHCIM Clinical Working Group that focuses on integrative mental health care. The action was taken “in response to the unsatisfactory state of mental health care in the U.S. and other countries, and increasing public and research interest in integrative mental health care.” The new sub-group operates with 4 goals:
• systematically evaluating research evidence pertaining to non-conventional and integrative assessment and treatment approaches in mental health care
• recommending research priorities to the Consortium leadership
• developing resources for educating and training mental health professionals in integrative mental health care, and
• establishing best practice clinical guidelines in integrative mental health care for common psychiatric disorders. Important aspects of the group’s work in 2011 are expected to be developing an agenda on research priorities in integrative mental health and facilitating collaborative research efforts between different Consortium member institutions. Leaders include Ron Glick, MD and Kelsey Hippen.
