Personal medicine should not be confused with Personalized Medicine.
Personal Medicine is an activity that a person does to obtain wellness, rather than something a person takes (e.g., medication) for wellness.[1]
In the psychiatric setting, Personal Medicine, or other self-initiated, non-pharmaceutical self-care activities, is used to decrease symptoms, avoid undesirable outcomes such as hospitalization, and improve mood, thoughts, behaviors, and the overall sense of well-being. The phrase "Personal Medicine" has also been used by the popular press to refer to personalized medicine.[2] [3]
The self-care use of "Personal Medicine" was first introduced in early 2003 as a result of qualitative research conducted by Patricia E. Deegan through the University of Kansas School of Social Welfare. After interviewing individuals who were taking psychiatric medication as a part of their recovery process, Deegan found that:
Interferences or conflicts between a person's Personal Medicine and their prescribed medications may result in non-adherence and/or a diminished quality of life. Personal Medicine can be integrated with shared decision making within the psychopharmacology consultation to improve adherence.[4] Research by Deegan and Robert E. Drake observed that:
In 2006, Deegan expanded the concept of Personal Medicine into a software program called CommonGround for use in mental health clinics.[5] Users of CommonGround are encouraged to develop their own unique Personal Medicines and are reminded of these personal medicines with subsequent use.[6] The software also includes three-minute video vignettes of people talking about their recovery from mental illness and how they achieved it, i.e., gaining wellness via personal medicine.