View source for Therapy

{{Short description|Attempted medical remediation of a health problem}}
{{Other uses}}
{{More citations needed|date=September 2018}}
{{Infobox interventions
| image        = Polio physical therapy.jpg
| Caption      = Children undergoing physical therapy. ([[polio]])
| ICD10        =
| ICD9unlinked =
| MeshID       = D013812
| OPS301       =
| othercodes   =
}}

A '''therapy''' or '''medical treatment''' is the attempted remediation of a [[health]] problem, usually following a [[medical diagnosis]]. Both words, ''treatment'' and ''therapy'', are often abbreviated '''tx''', '''Tx''', or '''T<sub>x</sub>'''.

As a rule, each therapy has [[indication (medicine)|indications]] and [[contraindication]]s.  There are many different types of therapy.  Not all therapies are [[Efficacy#Medicine|effective]].  Many therapies can produce unwanted [[adverse effect]]s.

''Treatment'' and ''therapy'' are often synonymous, especially in the usage of [[health professional]]s. However,  in the context of [[mental health]], the term ''therapy'' may refer specifically to [[psychotherapy]].

== Semantic field ==
The words '''''care''''', '''''therapy''''', '''''treatment''''', and '''''intervention''''' overlap in a [[semantic field]], and thus they can be [[synonym]]ous depending on [[context (language use)|context]]. Moving rightward through that order, the  [[connotation|connotative]] level of [[holism]] decreases and the level of specificity (to [[wikt:concrete#Adjective|concrete]] instances) increases. Thus, in [[health-care]] contexts (where its  [[word sense|senses]] are always [[mass noun|noncount]]), the word ''care'' tends to imply a broad idea of everything done to protect or improve someone's health (for example, as in the terms  [[preventive healthcare|''preventive care'']] and ''[[primary care]]'', which connote ongoing action), although it sometimes implies a narrower idea (for example, in the simplest cases of [[wound care]] or  [[post-anesthesia care unit|postanesthesia care]], a few particular steps are sufficient, and the patient's interaction with the provider of such care is soon finished). In contrast, the word ''intervention'' tends to be specific and concrete, and thus the word is often  [[count noun|countable]]; for example, one instance of [[cardiac catheterization]] is one  [[Medical procedure|intervention]] performed, and  [[coronary care unit|coronary care]] (noncount) can require a series of interventions (count). At the extreme, the piling on of such countable interventions amounts to  [[interventionism (medicine)|interventionism]], a flawed model of care lacking holistic  [[wikt:circumspection#Noun|circumspection]]—merely treating [[wikt:discrete#Adjective|discrete]] problems (in billable increments) rather than maintaining health. ''Therapy'' and ''treatment'', in the middle of the semantic field, can connote either the holism of ''care'' or the discreteness of ''intervention'', with context conveying the intent in each use. Accordingly, they can be used in both noncount and count senses (for example, ''therapy for [[chronic kidney disease]] can involve several  [[Kidney dialysis|dialysis]] treatments per week'').

{{anchor|aceology}}The words ''[[Materia medica|aceology]]'' and ''{{visible anchor|iamatology}}'' are obscure and obsolete synonyms referring to the study of therapies.

The English word ''therapy'' comes via Latin ''therapīa'' from {{langx|grc|θεραπεία}} and literally means "curing" or "healing".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.etymonline.com/search?q=therapy|title=therapy &#124; Search Online Etymology Dictionary|website=www.etymonline.com}}</ref> The term ''{{linktext|therapeusis}}'' is a somewhat archaic doublet of the word ''therapy''.

== Types of therapies ==
Therapy as a treatment for physical or mental condition is based on knowledge usually from one of three separate fields (or a combination of them): conventional medicine (allopathic, Western biomedicine, relying on scientific approach and evidence-based practice), traditional medicine (age-old cultural practices), and alternative medicine (healthcare procedures "not readily integrated into the dominant healthcare model").<ref>Eskinazi, D., & Mindes, J. (2001). "Alternative medicine: definition, scope and challenges". ''Asia-Pacific Biotech News'', 5(01), 19-25.</ref>

=== By chronology, priority, or intensity ===

==== Levels of care ====
Levels of care classify [[health care]] into categories of chronology, priority, or intensity, as follows:
* [[Urgent care center|Urgent care]] handles health issues that need to be handled today but are not necessarily emergencies; the urgent care venue can send a patient to the emergency care level if it turns out to be needed.
** In the United States (and possibly various other countries), [[urgent care]] centers also serve another function as their other main purpose: U.S. [[primary care]] practices have evolved in recent decades into a configuration whereby urgent care centers provide portions of primary care that cannot wait a month, because getting an appointment with the primary care practitioner is often subject to a waitlist of 2 to 8 weeks.<ref>Buttorff, C., Heins, S.E. & Al-Ibrahim, H. Comparison of definitions for identifying urgent care centers in health insurance claims. Health Serv Outcomes Res Method 21, 229–237 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10742-020-00224-6</ref>
* [[Emergency medicine|Emergency care]] handles [[medical emergency|medical emergencies]] and is a first point of contact or intake for less serious problems, which can be referred to other levels of care as appropriate. This therapy is often given to patients before a definitive diagnosis is made.<ref>Hansoti, B., Aluisio, A. R., Barry, M. A., Davey, K., Lentz, B. A., Modi, P., ... & Global Emergency Medicine Think Tank Clinical Research Working Group. (2017). Global health and emergency care: defining clinical research priorities. Academic Emergency Medicine, 24(6), 742-753.</ref>
* [[Intensive care medicine|Intensive care]], also called [[Critical care medicine|critical care]], is care for extremely ill or injured patients. It thus requires high resource intensity, knowledge, and skill, as well as quick [[decision making]].
* [[Ambulatory care]] is care provided on an [[patient#Outpatients and inpatients|outpatient]] basis. Typically patients can walk into and out of the clinic under their own power (hence "ambulatory"), usually on the same day. This care type also involves surgery which, according to recent research, offers "generally superior 30-day outcomes relative to inpatient-based care".<ref>Friedlander, David F. MD, MPH∗,†; Krimphove, Marieke J. MD; Cole, Alexander P. MD∗; Marchese, Maya MS∗; Lipsitz, Stuart R. ScD; Weissman, Joel S. PhD; Schoenfeld, Andrew J. MD, MSc; Ortega, Gezzer MD, MPH; Trinh, Quoc-Dien MD. Where Is the Value in Ambulatory Versus Inpatient Surgery?. Annals of Surgery 273(5):p 909-916, May 2021. | DOI: 10.1097/SLA.0000000000003578</ref>
* [[Home care]] is care at home, including care from providers (such as physicians, nurses, and home health aides) making [[house call]]s, care from [[caregiver]]s such as family members, and patient [[self care|self-care]].
* [[Primary care]] is meant to be the main kind of care in general, and ideally a [[medical home]] that unifies care across referred providers. The current trend in this area is digitalization aiming to ensure open access to information about therapy, issues, and recent progress on biomedical research.<ref>Maksut Senbekov, Timur Saliev, Zhanar Bukeyeva, Aigul Almabayeva, Marina Zhanaliyeva, Nazym Aitenova, Yerzhan Toishibekov, Ildar Fakhradiyev. (2020) The Recent Progress and Applications of Digital Technologies in Healthcare: A Review. International Journal of Telemedicine and Applications, Volume 2020, Issue 1. https://doi.org/10.1155/2020/8830200</ref>
* [[Secondary care]] is care provided by medical specialists and other health professionals who generally do not have first contact with patients, for example, [[cardiologists]], [[urologists]] and [[dermatologists]]. A patient reaches secondary care as a next step from [[primary care]], typically by provider referral although sometimes by patient self-initiative. According to a systematic review, fields for development secondary care from patients' viewpoint may be classified into four domains that should usefully guide future improvement of this care stage: "barriers to care, communication, coordination, and relationships and personal value".<ref>Sampson R, Cooper J, Barbour R, et al (2015). "Patients' perspectives on the medical primary–secondary care interface: systematic review and synthesis of qualitative research." ''BMJ Open'' 2015;5:e008708. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2015-008708</ref>
* [[Tertiary care]] is specialized consultative care, usually for [[patient#Outpatients and inpatients|inpatients]] and on referral from a primary or secondary health professional, in a facility that has personnel and facilities for advanced medical investigation and treatment, such as a [[tertiary referral hospital]].
* Follow-up care is additional care during or after [[convalescence]]. Aftercare is generally synonymous with follow-up care. One of the key areas of development–Telehealth, including non-clinical services: provider training, administrative meetings, and continuing medical education–offers opportunities to improve access to care, increase provider and patient productivity through reduced travel, potential expenses savings, and the ability to expand services.<ref>Snoswell CL, Taylor ML, Comans TA, Smith AC, Gray LC, Caffery LJ. (2020) "Determining if Telehealth Can Reduce Health System Costs: Scoping Review". ''J Med Internet Res'' 2020;22(10):e17298 doi: 10.2196/17298</ref>
* [[End-of-life care]] is care near the end of one's life. It often includes the following:
** [[Palliative care]] is [[#Supportive therapy|supportive care]], most especially (but not necessarily) near the end of life.
** [[Hospice]] care is palliative care very near the end of life when [[cure]] is very unlikely. Its main goal is comfort, both physical and mental. A systematic meta review showed that the most cost-efficient one relates to home-based end-of-life care, including reduced overall "resource use and improved patient and carer outcomes".<ref>Luta, X., Ottino, B., Hall, P. et al. (2021) "Evidence on the economic value of end-of-life and palliative care interventions: a narrative review of reviews". ''BMC Palliat Care'' 20, 89. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12904-021-00782-7</ref>

==== Lines of therapy ====
<!-- Over a dozen pages redirect to this section; if the text in this section header is changed, {{Anchor|Lines of therapy}} must be added to the heading to ensure that those pages continue to redirect to this section. -->
Treatment decisions often follow formal or informal [[algorithm]]ic guidelines. Treatment options can often be ranked or prioritized into '''lines of therapy''': '''first-line therapy''', '''second-line therapy''', '''third-line therapy''', and so on. '''First-line therapy''' (sometimes referred to as '''induction therapy''', '''primary therapy''', or '''front-line therapy''')<ref>[http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary/?CdrID=346494 National Cancer Institute > Dictionary of Cancer Terms > first-line therapy] Retrieved July 2010</ref> is the first therapy that will be tried. Its priority over other options is usually either: (1) formally recommended on the basis of [[clinical trial]] evidence for its best-available combination of efficacy, safety, and tolerability or (2) chosen based on the clinical experience of the physician. If a first-line therapy either fails to resolve the issue or produces intolerable [[side effect]]s, additional (second-line) therapies may be substituted or added to the treatment regimen, followed by third-line therapies, and so on.

An example of a context in which the formalization of treatment algorithms and the ranking of lines of therapy is very extensive is [[chemotherapy regimens]]. Because of the great difficulty in successfully treating some forms of cancer, one line after another may be tried. In [[oncology]] the count of therapy lines may reach 10 or even 20.

Often multiple therapies may be tried simultaneously ([[combination therapy]] or polytherapy). Thus [[combination chemotherapy]] is also called polychemotherapy, whereas chemotherapy with one agent at a time is called single-agent therapy or monotherapy. Single-agent therapy is a care algorithm that focuses on one specific drug or procedure. It utilizes a single therapeutic agent rather than combining multiple ones.<ref>Markham M. (2018). "Single Versus Multiagent Therapy: It's Time to Revisit the Choices." ''OncologyLive'', 19(22), 1. online: https://www.onclive.com/view/single-versus-multiagent-therapy-its-time-to-revisit-the-choices</ref> Multiagent Therapy is a treatment by two or more drugs or procedures. Comprehensive therapy combines various forms of medical treatment to provide the most effective care for patients.<ref>"Journal objective". ''Comprehensive Therapy'' 25, 62 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02889838</ref>

[[Adjuvant therapy]] is therapy given in addition to the primary, main, or initial treatment, but simultaneously (as opposed to second-line therapy). [[Neoadjuvant therapy]] is therapy that is begun before the main therapy. Thus one can consider surgical excision of a tumor as the first-line therapy for a certain type and stage of cancer even though radiotherapy is used before it; the radiotherapy is neoadjuvant (chronologically first but not primary in the sense of the main event). [[Premedication]] is conceptually not far from this, but the words are not interchangeable; cytotoxic drugs to put a tumor "on the ropes" before surgery delivers the "knockout punch"  are called neoadjuvant chemotherapy, not premedication, whereas things like anesthetics or prophylactic antibiotics before dental surgery are called premedication.

[[Step therapy]] or stepladder therapy is a specific type of prioritization by lines of therapy. It is controversial in [[health care in the United States|American health care]] because unlike conventional [[decision-making]] about what constitutes first-line, second-line, and third-line therapy, which in the U.S. reflects safety and efficacy first and cost only according to the patient's wishes, step therapy attempts to mix cost containment by someone other than the patient (third-party payers) into the algorithm.

[[Therapy freedom]] refers to prescription for use of an unlicensed medicine (without a marketing authorization issued by the licensing authority of the country)<ref name="Gore et al 2017" >Gore RK, Chugh PD, Tripathi C, Lhamo Y, Gautam S. (2017). "Pediatric off-label and unlicensed drug use and its implications". ''Current clinical pharmacology'', 12(1), 18-25. https://doi.org/10.2174/1574884712666170317161935</ref> and the negotiation between [[individual and group rights]] are involved. A comprehensive research in Australia, Czech Republic, India, Israel, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Serbia, Sweden, UK, and USA showed that the rate of the unlicensed medicine prescription has been reported to range from 0.3 to 35% depending on the country.<ref name="Gore et al 2017" /> In many jurisdictions, therapy freedom is limited to cases of no treatment existing that is both well-established and more efficacious.<ref>Derbyshire Medicines Management. "Prescribing and Guidelines". Retrieved online 20.03.2025: https://www.derbyshiremedicinesmanagement.nhs.uk/assets/Specials/Patient_Information/PIL_-_why_your_GP_has_not_prescribed_an_unlicensed_medicine.pdf
</ref>

=== By intent ===

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="width:100%"
|- valign="top"
! scope="col" | Therapy type
! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Description
|- valign="top"
! scope="row" | {{Anchor|Abortive therapy}} abortive therapy
| A therapy that is intended to stop a medical condition from progressing any further.  A medication taken at the earliest signs of a disease, such as an [[analgesic]] taken at the first symptoms of a [[migraine headache]] to prevent it from getting worse, is an abortive therapy. Compare [[abortifacient]]s, which abort a pregnancy.
|- valign="top"
! scope="row" | {{Anchor|Bridge therapy}} [[bridge therapy]]
| A therapy that [[figurative analogy|figuratively]] provides a bridge to another step or phase, crossing over some immediate chasm (challenge), in contrast with [[destination therapy]], which is the final therapy in cases where clinically appropriate.
|- valign="top"
! scope="row" | {{Anchor|Consolidation therapy}} consolidation therapy
| A therapy given to consolidate the gains from [[#Lines of therapy|induction therapy]]. In cancer, this means chasing after any malignant cells that may be left.
|- valign="top"
! scope="row" | {{Anchor|Curative therapy}} curative therapy
| A therapy with ''curative intent'', that is, one that seeks to [[cure]] the root cause of a disorder. (also called etiotropic therapy)
|- valign="top"
! scope="row" | {{Anchor|Definitive therapy}} definitive therapy
| A therapy that may be final, superior to others, [[#Curative therapy|curative]], or all of those.
|- valign="top"
! scope="row" | {{Anchor|Destination therapy}} [[destination therapy]]
| A therapy that is the final destination rather than a [[bridge therapy|bridge]] to another therapy. Usually refers to [[ventricular assist device]]s to keep the existing heart going, not just until [[heart transplantation]] can occur, but for the rest of the patient's life expectancy.
|- valign="top"
! scope="row" | {{Anchor|Empiric therapy}} [[empiric therapy]]
| A therapy given on an empiric basis; that is, one given according to a clinician's educated guess despite uncertainty about the illness's causative factors. For example, empiric antibiotic therapy administers a [[broad-spectrum antibiotic]] immediately on the basis of a good chance (given the history, physical examination findings, and risk factors present) that the illness is bacterial and will respond to that drug (even though the bacterial species or variant is not yet known).
|- valign="top"
! scope="row" | {{Anchor|Gold standard therapy}} gold standard therapy
| A therapy that is [[#Definitive therapy|definitive]], just as a [[gold standard (test)|gold standard diagnostic test]] is a definitive test.
|- valign="top"
! scope="row" | {{Anchor|Investigational therapy}} investigational therapy
| An [[experiment]]al therapy. Use of experimental therapies must be ethically justified, because by definition they raise the question of [[standard of care]]. Physicians have autonomy to provide empirical care (such as [[off-label use|off-label]] care) according to their experience and clinical judgment, but the autonomy has limits that preclude [[quackery]]. Thus it may be necessary to design a [[clinical trial]] around the new therapy and to use the therapy only per a formal [[protocol (science)|protocol]]. Sometimes shorthand phrases such as "treated on protocol" imply not just "treated according to a plan" but specifically "treated with investigational therapy".
|- valign="top"
! scope="row" | {{Anchor|Maintenance therapy}} [[maintenance therapy]]
| A therapy taken during [[remission (medicine)|disease remission]] to prevent relapse.
|- valign="top"
! scope="row" | {{Anchor|Palliative therapy}} palliative therapy
| See [[#Supportive therapy|supportive therapy]] for connotative distinctions.
|- valign="top"
! scope="row" | {{Anchor|Preventive therapy}} preventive therapy<br />{{nowrap|(prophylactic therapy)}}
| A therapy that is intended to [[preventive healthcare|prevent a medical condition]] from occurring (also called prophylaxis). For example, many [[vaccine]]s prevent infectious diseases.
|- valign="top"
! scope="row" | {{Anchor|Salvage therapy}} [[salvage therapy]] (rescue therapy)
| A therapy tried after others have failed; it may be a "last-[[#Lines of therapy|line]]" therapy.
|- valign="top"
! scope="row" | {{Anchor|Stepdown therapy}} stepdown therapy
| Therapy that tapers the dosage gradually rather than abruptly cutting it off. For example, a switch from intravenous to oral antibiotics as an infection is brought under control steps down the intensity of therapy.
|- valign="top"
! scope="row" | {{Anchor|Supportive therapy}} supportive therapy
| A therapy that does not treat or improve the underlying condition, but rather increases the patient's comfort, also called [[symptomatic treatment]] (see there for more information).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cfids.org/about-cfids/supportive-therapy.asp |title=CFIDS |publisher=CFIDS |access-date=2012-01-09 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120213075456/http://www.cfids.org/about-cfids/supportive-therapy.asp |archive-date=2012-02-13 }}</ref> For example, supportive care for flu, colds, or gastrointestinal upset can include rest, fluids, and [[over-the-counter drug|over-the-counter]] pain relievers; those things do not treat the cause, but they treat the symptoms and thus provide relief. Supportive therapy may be palliative therapy ([[palliative care]]). The two terms are sometimes synonymous, but palliative care often specifically refers to serious illness and [[end-of-life care]]. Therapy may be categorized as having [[#Curative therapy|curative intent]] (when it is possible to eliminate the disease) or ''palliative intent'' (when eliminating the disease is impossible and the focus shifts to minimizing the distress that it causes). The two are often [[wikt:contradistinguish#Verb|contradistinguished]] (mutually exclusive) in some contexts (such as the [[management of cancer|management of some cancers]]), but they are not inherently mutually exclusive; often therapy can be both curative and palliative simultaneously. [[Supportive psychotherapy]] aims to support the patient by alleviating the worst of the symptoms, with the expectation that [[#Definitive therapy|definitive therapy]] can follow later if possible.
|- valign="top"
! scope="row" | {{Anchor|Systemic therapy}} systemic therapy
| A therapy that is [[wikt:systemic#Adjective|systemic]]. In the physiological [[word sense|sense]], this means affecting the whole body (rather than being local or locoregional), whether via [[systemic administration]], systemic effect, or both. [[Systemic therapy (psychotherapy)|Systemic therapy in the psychotherapeutic sense]] seeks to address people not only on the individual level but also as people in relationships, dealing with the interactions of groups.
|-
|}

===By intervention===
* Invasive therapy is achieved either through surgery or through the use of drugs.<ref>Cousins S, Blencowe NS, Blazeby JM. (2019) What is an invasive procedure? A definition to inform study design, evidence synthesis and research tracking. BMJ Open. 2019 Jul 30;9(7):e028576. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2018-028576.</ref> Medical invasive treatments can be divided into two main categories: pharmacotherapy and surgery.<ref>Klein E. What does it mean to call a medical device invasive? Med Health Care Philos. (2023) Sep;26(3):325-334. doi: 10.1007/s11019-023-10147-x.</ref>
* Noninvasive therapies are medical treatments that do not involve entry into the body. It can be classified into five main categories:  neurotherapy, physical therapy, occupational therapy, radiation therapy, and psychotherapy.<ref>Davis NJ, van Koningsbruggen MG. (2013) "Non-invasive" brain stimulation is not non-invasive. Front Syst Neurosci. 2013 Dec 23;7:76. doi: 10.3389/fnsys.2013.00076.</ref>

=== By therapy composition ===

Treatments can be classified according to the method of treatment:

==== By [[matter]] ====
* by [[drug]]s: [[pharmacotherapy]], [[chemotherapy]] (also, ''medical therapy'' often means specifically pharmacotherapy)
* by [[medical device]]s: [[implant (medicine)|implantation]]
** [[cardiac resynchronization therapy]]
* by specific [[molecule]]s: [[molecular medicine|molecular therapy]] (although most drugs are specific molecules, ''molecular medicine'' refers in particular to medicine relying on [[molecular biology]])
** by specific [[biomolecule|biomolecular]] targets: [[targeted therapy]]
*** [[molecular chaperone therapy]]
** by [[chelation]]: [[chelation therapy]]
* by specific [[chemical element]]s:
** by [[metal]]s:
*** by [[heavy metal (chemistry)|heavy metals]]:
**** by [[gold]]: [[chrysotherapy]] (aurotherapy)
**** by [[platinum]]-containing drugs: [[platinum-based antineoplastic|platin therapy]]
*** by [[biometal (biology)|biometals]]
**** by [[lithium]]: [[lithium (medication)|lithium therapy]]
**** by [[potassium in biology|potassium]]: [[potassium#Supplementation|potassium supplementation]]
**** by [[magnesium in biology|magnesium]]: [[magnesium (pharmaceutical preparation)|magnesium supplementation]]
**** by [[chromium]]: [[Chromium deficiency#Supplementation|chromium supplementation]]; [[phonemic neurological hypochromium therapy]]
**** by [[copper]]: [[copper in health#Supplementation|copper supplementation]]
** by [[Nonmetal (chemistry)|nonmetal]]s:
*** by diatomic [[oxygen]]: [[oxygen therapy]], hyperbaric oxygen therapy ([[hyperbaric medicine]])
**** [[transdermal continuous oxygen therapy]]
*** by triatomic oxygen ([[ozone]]): [[ozone therapy]]
*** by [[fluoride]]: [[fluoride therapy]]
*** by other gases: [[medical gas therapy]]
* by [[water]]:
** [[hydrotherapy]]
** [[aquatic therapy]]
** [[rehydration therapy]]
*** [[oral rehydration therapy]]
** [[water cure (therapy)]]
* by biological materials ([[biogenic substance]]s, [[biomolecule]]s, [[biotic material]]s, [[natural product]]s), including their [[chemical synthesis|synthetic]] equivalents: [[biopharmaceutical|biotherapy]]
** by whole [[organism]]s
*** by [[virus]]es: [[virotherapy]]
*** by [[bacteriophage]]s: [[phage therapy]]
*** by animal interaction: ''see [[#By animal interaction|animal interaction]] section''
** by constituents or products of organisms
*** by [[plant]] parts or extracts (but many drugs are derived from plants, even when the term ''phytotherapy'' is not used)
**** scientific type: [[phytotherapy]]
**** traditional (prescientific) type: [[herbalism]]
*** by animal parts: [[quackery]] involving shark fins, tiger parts, and so on, often driving [[threatened species|threat]] or [[endangered species|endangerment]] of species
*** by [[gene]]s: [[gene therapy]]
**** [[gene therapy for epilepsy]]
**** [[gene therapy for osteoarthritis]]
**** [[gene therapy for color blindness]]
**** [[gene therapy of the human retina]]
**** [[gene therapy in Parkinson's disease]]
*** by [[epigenetics]]: [[epigenetic therapy]]
*** by [[protein]]s: [[protein therapy]] (but many drugs are proteins despite not being called protein therapy)
*** by [[enzyme]]s: [[enzyme replacement therapy]]
*** by [[hormone]]s: [[hormone therapy]]
**** [[hormonal therapy (oncology)]]
**** [[hormone replacement therapy]]
***** [[estrogen replacement therapy]]
***** [[androgen replacement therapy]]
***** [[hormone replacement therapy (menopause)]]
***** [[transgender hormone therapy]]
****** [[feminizing hormone therapy]]
****** [[masculinizing hormone therapy]]
**** [[antihormone therapy]]
***** [[androgen deprivation therapy]]
*** by whole [[cell (biology)|cells]]: [[cell therapy]] (cytotherapy)
**** by [[stem cell]]s: [[stem cell therapy]]
**** by [[white blood cell|immune cells]]: ''see immune system products below''
*** by [[immune system]] products: [[immunotherapy]], [[host modulatory therapy]]
**** by [[white blood cell|immune cells]]:
***** [[T-cell vaccination]]
***** [[cell transfer therapy]]
***** [[autologous immune enhancement therapy]]
***** [[TK cell therapy]]
**** by [[humoral immunity|humoral immune factors]]: antibody therapy
***** by whole [[serum (blood)|serum]]: serotherapy, including [[antiserum]] therapy
***** by [[antibody|immunoglobulins]]: [[immunoglobulin therapy]]
****** by [[monoclonal antibody|monoclonal antibodies]]: [[monoclonal antibody therapy]]
** by [[urine]]: [[urine therapy]] (some scientific forms; many prescientific or pseudoscientific forms)
** by [[food]] and [[dieting|dietary]] choices:
*** [[medical nutrition therapy]]
*** [[grape therapy]] (quackery)
* by [[salt (chemistry)|salts]] (but many drugs are the salts of organic acids, even when drug therapy is not called by names reflecting that)
** by [[salt (chemistry)|salts]] in the air
*** by natural dry salt air: "taking the cure" in [[desert]] locales (especially common in prescientific medicine; for example, one 19th-century way to treat tuberculosis)
*** by artificial dry salt air:
**** low-humidity forms of [[speleotherapy]]
**** [[negative air ionization therapy]]
*** by [[salt air|moist salt air]]:
**** by natural moist salt air: [[seaside resort|seaside cure]] (especially common in prescientific medicine)
**** by artificial moist salt air: water vapor forms of [[speleotherapy]]
** by [[salt (chemistry)|salts]] in the water
*** by [[mineral water]]: [[spa town|spa cure]] ("taking the waters") (especially common in prescientific medicine)
*** by [[seawater]]: [[seaside resort|seaside cure]] (especially common in prescientific medicine)
* by [[aroma]]: [[aromatherapy]]
* by other materials with mechanism of action unknown
** by occlusion with duct tape: [[duct tape occlusion therapy]]

==== By [[energy]] ====
* by [[electric energy]] as [[electric current]]: [[electrotherapy]], [[electroconvulsive therapy]]
** [[Transcranial magnetic stimulation]]
** [[Vagus nerve stimulation]]
* by [[magnetic energy]]:
** [[magnet therapy]]
** [[pulsed electromagnetic field therapy]]
** [[magnetic resonance therapy]]
* by [[electromagnetic radiation]] (EMR):
** by [[light]]: [[light therapy]] (phototherapy)
*** [[ultraviolet light therapy]]
**** [[PUVA therapy]]
*** [[photodynamic therapy]]
**** [[photothermal therapy]]
**** [[cytoluminescent therapy]]
*** [[blood irradiation therapy]]
*** by [[darkness]]: [[dark therapy]]
*** by [[laser]]s: [[laser therapy]]
**** [[low level laser therapy]]
** by [[gamma ray]]s: [[radiosurgery]]
*** [[radiosurgery#Gamma Knife|Gamma Knife radiosurgery]]
*** [[stereotactic radiation therapy]]
*** [[cobalt therapy]]
** by [[radiation]] generally: [[radiation therapy]] (radiotherapy)
*** [[intraoperative radiation therapy]]
*** by EMR [[particle]]s:
**** [[particle therapy]]
***** [[proton therapy]]
***** [[electron therapy]]
****** [[intraoperative electron radiation therapy]]
****** [[Auger therapy]]
***** neutron therapy
****** [[fast neutron therapy]]
****** [[neutron capture therapy of cancer]]
*** by [[radioisotope]]s emitting EMR:
**** by [[nuclear medicine]]
**** by [[brachytherapy]]
** quackery type: [[electromagnetic therapy (alternative medicine)]]
* by [[Mechanics|mechanical]]: [[manual therapy]] as [[massotherapy]] and therapy by [[exercise]] as in [[physical therapy]]
** [[inversion therapy]]
* by [[sound]]:
** by [[ultrasound]]:
*** ultrasonic [[lithotripsy]]
**** [[extracorporeal shockwave therapy]]
*** [[sonodynamic therapy]]
** by [[music]]: [[music therapy]]
* by [[temperature]]
** by [[heat]]: [[heat therapy]] (thermotherapy)
*** by moderately elevated ambient temperatures: [[hyperthermia therapy]]
**** by dry warm surroundings: [[Waon therapy]]
**** by dry or humid warm surroundings: [[sauna]], including [[infrared sauna]], for [[sweat therapy]]
** by [[cold]]:
*** by extreme cold to specific tissue volumes: [[cryotherapy]]
*** by ice and compression: [[cold compression therapy]]
*** by ambient cold:
**** [[hypothermia therapy for neonatal encephalopathy]] (in newborns)
**** [[targeted temperature management]] (therapeutic hypothermia, protective hypothermia)
** by hot and cold alternation: [[contrast bath therapy]]

==== By procedure and human interaction ====
* [[Surgery]]
* by [[counseling]], such as [[psychotherapy]] (''see also: [[list of psychotherapies]]'')
** [[systemic therapy]]
** by [[group psychotherapy]]<ref>{{cite news |last1=Schwartz |first1=Jeremy |title=5 Reasons to Consider Group Therapy |url=http://health.usnews.com/health-care/for-better/articles/2017-07-14/5-reasons-to-consider-group-therapy |access-date=12 April 2021 |work=U.S. News & World Report |language=en |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170722190031/http://health.usnews.com/health-care/for-better/articles/2017-07-14/5-reasons-to-consider-group-therapy |archive-date=22 July 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>
* by [[cognitive behavioral therapy]]
** by [[cognitive therapy]]
** by [[behaviour therapy]]
*** by [[dialectical behavior therapy]]
** by [[cognitive emotional behavioral therapy]]
* by [[cognitive rehabilitation therapy]]
* by [[family therapy]]
* by [[education]]
** by [[psychoeducation]]
** by [[information therapy]]
* by [[speech therapy]], [[physical therapy]], [[occupational therapy]], [[vision therapy]], [[massage]] therapy, [[chiropractic]] or [[acupuncture]]
* by [[Lifestyle medicine|lifestyle modifications]], such as avoiding [[Junk food|unhealthy food]] or maintaining a predictable [[sleep]] schedule
* by [[coaching]]

==== By animal interaction ====
* by [[pet]]s, [[assistance animal]]s, or [[working animal]]s: [[animal-assisted therapy]]
** by [[horse]]s: [[equine therapy]], [[hippotherapy]]
** by [[dog]]s: pet therapy with [[therapy dog]]s, including [[grief therapy dog]]s
** by [[cat]]s: pet therapy with [[therapy cat]]s
* by [[fish]]: [[ichthyotherapy]] (wading with fish), [[aquarium therapy]] (watching fish)
* by [[maggot]]s: [[maggot therapy]]
* by [[worm]]s:
** by internal worms: [[helminthic therapy]]
** by [[leech]]es: [[leech therapy]]
* by [[immersion therapy|immersion]]: [[animal bath]]

==== By [[meditation]] ====
* by [[mindfulness]]: [[mindfulness-based cognitive therapy]]

==== By [[reading (process)|reading]] ====
* by [[bibliotherapy]]

==== By [[creativity]] ====
* by expression: [[expressive therapy]]
** by [[writing]]: [[writing therapy]]
*** [[journal therapy]]
* by [[play (activity)|play]]: [[play therapy]]
* by [[art]]: [[art therapy]]
** [[sensory art therapy]]
** [[comic book therapy]]
* by [[gardening]]: [[horticultural therapy]]
* by [[dance]]: [[dance therapy]]
* by [[drama]]: [[drama therapy]]
* by [[recreation]]: [[recreational therapy]]
* by [[music]]: [[music therapy]]

==== By [[sleep]]ing and waking ====
* by [[deep sleep]]: [[deep sleep therapy]]<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Shorter |first1=Edward |title=The beginning of psychopharmacology: Deep-sleep therapies |journal=European Psychiatry |date=January 1996 |volume=11 |pages=236s |doi=10.1016/0924-9338(96)88707-4|s2cid=144323687 }}</ref>
* by sleep deprivation: [[wake therapy]]<ref>{{cite book |last1=Minkel |first1=Jared D. |last2=Krystal |first2=Andrew D. |last3=Benca |first3=Ruth M. |editor1-last=Kryger |editor1-first=Meir |editor2-last=Roth |editor2-first=Thomas |editor3-last=Dement |editor3-first=William C. |title=Principles and Practice of Sleep Medicine |date=2017 |publisher=Elsevier |location=Philadelphia, PA |isbn=978-0-323-24288-2 |pages=1352–1362 |edition=6th |chapter-url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780323242882001379 |access-date=12 May 2021 |language=en |chapter=Unipolar Major Depression}}</ref>

== See also ==
{{div col|colwidth=18em}}
* [[Biophilia hypothesis]]
* [[Classification of Pharmaco-Therapeutic Referrals]]
* [[Compassion-focused therapy]]
* [[Emotionally focused therapy]]
* [[Greyhound therapy]]
* [[Inverse benefit law]]
* [[List of therapies]]
* [[Mature minor doctrine]]
* [[Medication]]
* [[Medicine]]
* [[Nutraceutical]]
* [[Prevention (medical)|Prevention]]
* [[Psychedelic therapy]]
* [[Therapeutic inertia]]
* [[Therapeutic nihilism]], the idea that treatment is useless
* [[Treatment as prevention]]
{{div col end}}

== References ==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Therapies}}
* {{Wiktionary-inline|therapy}}
* [http://www.wdl.org/en/item/7384 "Chapter Nine of the Book of Medicine Dedicated to Mansur, with the Commentary of Sillanus de Nigris"] is a Latin book by [[Rhazes]], from 1483, that is known for its ninth chapter, which is about therapeutics
{{Medicine}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Set index article}}

[[Category:Therapy]]
[[Category:Drug discovery]]
[[Category:Health policy]]
[[Category:Medicinal chemistry]]
[[Category:Pharmaceutical sciences]]