The use of alternative medicines by somatoform disorder patients in Spain

Somatisation disorder patients show a high rate of alternative medicine consultations but most of them do not disclose this fact to the doctor owing to fear of reprisals. The reasons given for using these medicines do not equate to sociodemographic characteristics, psychiatric diagnosis or personality traits but instead to dissatisfaction with medical care and with diagnosis. These patients appreciate the longer and more frequent consultations as well as the better doctor-patient relationship of alternative medicines.