ABPS Integrative Medicine study guide
ABPS Integrative Medicine · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The ABPS Integrative Medicine credential is a board certification offered by the American Board of Physician Specialties for physicians who combine conventional care with evidence-informed complementary approaches. It is aimed at practicing clinicians-primary care, family medicine, internal medicine, and specialists-who want formal recognition of competency in integrative practice rather than a single-modality certificate. The ABPS Integrative Medicine study guide has 10 sections and about 2,733 words.
01Foundations of Integrative Medicine
Integrative medicine is best defined as patient-centered care that combines conventional biomedicine with evidence-informed complementary approaches, emphasizing the whole person, the therapeutic relationship, and lifestyle as foundations of health. Candidates must distinguish it from complementary use (unconventional therapy alongside conventional care), alternative use (unconventional therapy instead of conventional care), and integrative care (coordinated, deliberate combination).
301 words, about 2 min02Nutrition
Candidates must understand macronutrient roles and energy balance, dietary patterns (Mediterranean, DASH, plant-predominant), fiber and the gut microbiome, glycemic index/load, and the distinction between nutrient adequacy and therapeutic dosing. Know that dietary pattern quality matters more than single nutrients, and that whole-food, plant-forward patterns are the best-evidenced for cardiometabolic risk.
269 words, about 1 min03Dietary Supplements and Botanicals
Understand supplement regulation (in the U.S., supplements are regulated as food, not drugs-no premarket efficacy or safety approval), quality issues (contamination, adulteration, mislabeling), and the highest-yield interaction and safety facts. Know common botanicals (e.g., St.
257 words, about 1 min04Mind-Body Medicine and Behavioral Approaches
Mind-body therapies include meditation/mindfulness, relaxation techniques, breathing exercises, yoga, tai chi, guided imagery, hypnosis, and biofeedback. Understand the stress-response physiology (sympathetic activation, HPA axis, cortisol) and how mind-body practices modulate it.
234 words, about 1 min05Acupuncture and Traditional East Asian Medicine
Understand acupuncture's theoretical framework (qi, meridians, yin/yang, five phases) as a traditional explanatory model , distinct from proposed biomedical mechanisms (neuromodulation, endogenous opioids, adenosine, descending pain inhibition). Know needling basics: sterile single-use needles, common points, deqi sensation, and safety.
257 words, about 1 min06Manual and Body-Based Therapies
Manual therapies include spinal manipulation (chiropractic, osteopathic), massage, mobilization, and myofascial release. Understand the distinction between manipulation (high-velocity, low-amplitude thrust) and mobilization (low-velocity, passive movement).
240 words, about 1 min07Preventive Medicine, Lifestyle, and Health Behavior Change
Know the major modifiable lifestyle domains (diet, physical activity, sleep, tobacco/alcohol, stress, social connection) and their role in primary and secondary prevention. Understand behavior-change frameworks: the transtheoretical (stages of change) model (precontemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, maintenance), motivational interviewing (OARS: open questions, affirmations, reflections, summaries), and self-efficacy/social cognitive theory.
232 words, about 1 min08Integrative Approaches to Chronic Disease and Pain
Integrative chronic disease care combines guideline-based conventional treatment with evidence-informed lifestyle, mind-body, and manual approaches. For chronic pain, understand the biopsychosocial model , central sensitization, and multimodal care: exercise, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), mindfulness, acupuncture, and judicious medication use.
248 words, about 1 min09Integrative Care of Special Populations and Women's Health
Special populations include pregnancy/lactation, older adults, children, and those with polypharmacy or chronic illness. Women's health topics include menstrual disorders, menopause, fertility, and prenatal care.
228 words, about 1 min10Evidence-Based Practice, Research Literacy, and Safety
Understand evidence hierarchies (systematic reviews/meta-analyses RCTs cohort case-control case series expert opinion), study designs, bias types (selection, performance, detection, attrition, reporting), and key metrics: relative risk (RR), odds ratio (OR), absolute risk reduction (ARR), number needed to treat (NNT = 1/ARR), confidence intervals, and p-values. Distinguish statistical from clinical significance.
467 words, about 2 min