Positive Health Online

Abstract

DAVIDSON and colleagues, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Caroline USA write that homoeopathy, although a well-established therapeutic system of relevance to psychiatry, has been as yet largely untested. The authors report on the use of homoeopathic treatment for patients suffering with depression and anxiety.

Background

Methodology

12 adults with major depression, social phobia or panic disorder were treated on an outpatient basis with individually selected homoeopathic remedies, following a partial or poor response to conventional treatment. Treatment duration was from 7 to 80 weeks. Response was assessed using a clinical global scale (n=12), the self-rated SCL-90 scale (n=8) and the Brief Social Phobia Scale (n=4).

Results

Overall response rates were 58% according to the clinical global improvement scale and 50% based upon the SCL-90 or Brief Social Phobia Scale.

Conclusion

Homoeopathy may be a useful treatment for affective and anxiety disorders in patients with mild to severe symptomatic conditions.

References

Davidson JR et al. Homeopathic treatment of depression and anxiety. Altern Ther Health Med. 3(1): 46-9. Jan 1997.