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- Title
Homeopathic remedies in psychiatric disorders: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
- Authors
Falone, A.; Cassioli, E.; Ricca, V.; Mannucci, E.; Rotella, F.
- Abstract
Introduction: Homeopathy is aComplementary andAlternative Medicine based on the "memory of water" mechanism. This theory has never been scientifically proven and conclusive evidence on the efficacy and safety of these treatments is not currently available. This notwithstanding, homeopathic remedies (IHTs) are extremely widespread throughout the world and especially in the field of mental disorders. Objectives: The aim is to assess the efficacy of IHT in the treatment of mental disorders compared to placebo or conventional psychotropic drugs. Methods: We performed a Medline/Embase search for studies published from any date to 23 October 2018. All Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) enrolling patients with a diagnosed psychiatric disorder and comparing any IHT with placebo, no treatment or other psychotropic drugs were included. Results: 212 studieswere screened and 9met all selection criteria (fig. 1) and reported data on Major Depressive Disorder (MDD, n=4), Generalized Anxiety Disorder (n=1), Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD, n=2) and Premenstrual Syndrome/Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD, n=2). Eight out of nine RCTs showed high risk of bias, including the absence of blinding (n=2). Homeopathy showed greater efficacy in MDD compared to fluoxetine, and in PMDD compared to placebo, while no difference emerged between homeopathy and placebo in the treatment of MDD and ADHD. Conclusions: Currently available data on homeopathic remedies in psychiatric disorders are largely insufficient to support any use of this approach in clinical practice. Ethical considerations should therefore prevent clinicians from recommending homeopathic remedies in Psychiatric Disorders.
- Subjects
HOMEOPATHIC agents; MENTAL illness; RANDOMIZED controlled trials; PEOPLE with mental illness; PSYCHIATRIC drugs
- Publication
European Psychiatry, 2020, Vol 63, pS145
- ISSN
0924-9338
- Publication type
Article