What MFTs should know about nutrition, psychosocial health, and collaborative care with nutrition professionals.

Despite sufficient evidence on the role of nutrition in psychosocial health, Marriage and Family Therapists lack the knowledge for sufficient assessment and referrals in treatment. The purpose of this article is to orient MFTs to human metabolism and the effects of various nutrients, or lack thereof, on the psychosocial health in their clients. The roles of several micronutrients and macronutrients will be described as well as the effects of eating patterns and overall metabolic health on mental health.

A randomized trial of a CAM therapy for stress reduction in American Indian and Alaskan Native family caregivers.

Purpose: Although it is widely recognized that caregivers of individuals with dementia experience elevated stress that places them at increased risk for health problems, little is known about how caregiving stress may be alleviated among underserved ethnic minority populations. The purpose of this study was to compare a complementary and alternative medicine therapy, polarity therapy (PT), to an enhanced respite control condition (ERC) to reduce stress and depression and improve quality of life for American Indian (AI) and Alaskan Native family caregivers.

Design And Methods: Forty-two AI family caregivers of individuals with dementia, living on and off reservations in the Pacific Northwest, were randomized to an 8-session trial of PT or ERC.