To the Editor We were pleased to read the systematic review by Gamret et al1 because it is a field of interest. We would like to comment on some issues that we believe will be of interest to the readers of JAMA Dermatology.
The authors draw attention to the need for physicians to be prepared to have informed discussions with their patients about options with complementary and alternative medicine (CAM).1 Their positive data on CAM and psoriasis helps buttress this point. Other data2 suggest that significant numbers of patients use CAM (34.5%) and 42.3% did not report this to their physician. Main reasons were physician not inquiring (57.0%) and physician not needing to know (46.2%).2 Such data require our attention because it may suggest a “trust deficit.” Our patients trust us with their health and lives, and so they should be willing to disclose such vital information. This is buttressed by data suggesting that patients’ perception of physicians’ lack of openness, interest, and respect prompted a desire not to discuss CAM use with their physician.3