Homœopathic Links 2019; 32(04): 224-229
DOI: 10.1055/s-0040-1701198
Research Article
Thieme Medical and Scientific Publishers Private Ltd.

Evaluation of Homoeopathic Treatment Approach in Depressive Disorders of Hyderabad Urban Population of Age Group 15–30 Years: A Prospective, Non-comparative, Open-Label Observational Study

G. Ram Mohan
1   Devs Homoeopathic Medical College, Ankireddypalli, RR District, Telangana, India
,
Korada Prabhakar
2   Mediciti Medical College, Hyderabad, Telangana, India
,
T. Murali
1   Devs Homoeopathic Medical College, Ankireddypalli, RR District, Telangana, India
,
P. Ramakrishna Prasad
› Author Affiliations
Funding Agency The authors thank the erstwhile Department of AYUSH, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, presently Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India, New Delhi, for their financial assistance.
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
07 March 2020 (online)

Abstract

Objective Depressive disorders have an overall prevalence of 12.1%, which is clinically very significant. This study is taken up to understand the concept of the causes of depressive disorders, to understand the miasmatic state of depressive disorders and to determine the efficacy of homoeopathic medicines in the management of depressive disorders.

Methods A prospective, non-comparative, open-label observational study was done at Multi-Specialty Clinic and Research Centre of The Andhra Pradesh Homoeopathic Association from 2009 to 2012. Patients aged between 15 and 30 years, presenting with symptoms of depressive disorders, were screened for inclusion and exclusion criteria and a total of 207 cases were enrolled for the study. The characteristic symptoms of the patients were recorded, repertorised, miasmatic diagnosis done and medicines prescribed based on individualisation of patient, with the help of materia medica. Hamilton depression rating scale (HAM-D) was used to assess the treatment. The parameter of improvement was - Marked improvement - 75% and above; outcome. Moderate improvement - 50% and above; Mild improvement - 25%.

Results Out of 207 enrolled patients, 32 cases were dropout, while total 175 cases were analysed. The significant difference (p = 0.0001, p < 0.05) in the mean scores of HAM-D using paired t-test was observed at the end of the study; marked improvement was seen in 39 cases; moderate improvement was seen in 76; mild improvement was seen in 34 cases; no improvement was seen in 26 cases. Remedies such as Ignatia, Nat mur, Nux vomica, Staphysagria, Arsenicum album and Lycopodium were found to have a positive role.

Conclusion The study showed positive and encouraging results of homoeopathic intervention in the management of patients suffering from depressive disorders as measured by HAM-D scale.

 
  • References

  • 1 Andrade L, Caraveo-Anduaga JJ, Berglund P. , et al. The epidemiology of major depressive episodes: results from the International Consortium of Psychiatric Epidemiology (ICPE) Surveys. Int J Methods Psychiatr Res 2003; 12 (01) 3-21
  • 2 World Health Organization. Suicide Prevention. http://www.who.int/mental_health/prevention/suicide/suicideprevent/en/
  • 3 Lamberg T, Virtanen P, Vahtera J, Luukkaala T, Koskenvuo M. Unemployment, depressiveness and disability retirement: a follow-up study of the Finnish HeSSup population sample. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 2010; 45 (02) 259-264
  • 4 Lehtinen V, Joukamaa M. Epidemiology of depression: prevalence, risk factors and treatment situation. Article first published online: 23 August 2007, DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0447.1994.tb05794
  • 5 Mohan GR. Study of common mental illness in urban population with a Homoeopathic approach. Asian J Homoeopathy 2008; 3 (02) 3
  • 6 Semple D, Smyth R. Oxford Handbook of Psychiatry. 2nd edition. Oxford University Press;
  • 7 Sadock BJ, Sadock VA. Kaplon & Sadock—Textbook of Psychiatry. 10th edition. Wolters Kluwer, Lippincott William & Wilkins;
  • 8 Harrison—Textbook of Internal Medicine. 17th edition. McGraw Hill medical publishers; US: 2716
  • 9 Syvälahti EKG. Biological aspects of depression, Article first published online: 2007 , DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0447.1994.tb05795
  • 10 Fisher P, Dantas F, Rampes H. The safety of Homoeopathic products. J R Soc Med 2002; 95 (09) 474-476
  • 11 Gupta A, Bahadur I, Gupta KR, Bhugra D. Self-awareness of depression and life events in three groups of patients: psychotic depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder and chronic medical illness in North India. Indian J Psychiatry 2006; 48 (04) 251-253
  • 12 Hamilton M. A rating scale for depression. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 1960; 23: 56-62
  • 13 Radar opus Homoepathic software
  • 14 Patel RP. Chronic miasms in Homoeopathy & their cure with classification of their rubrics/symptoms in Dr. Kent's repertory (Repertory of miasms). R.P.Patels institute of Homoeopathy; 2007
  • 15 Hahnemann CFS. Organon of Medicine. 6th edition. New Delhi: B Jain Publishers;
  • 16 Bailey PM. Homoeopathic Psychology. New Delhi: B Jain Publishers (P) Ltd; 1995
  • 17 Kent JT. Lectures on Homoeopathic Materia Medica. New Delhi: B Jain Publishers;
  • 18 Boericke W. Pocket Manual of Homoeopathic Materia Medica. New Delhi: B Jain Publishers (P) Ltd.;
  • 19 Hahnemann CFS. Theory of Chronic Diseases. printed in. B Jain publishers; New Delhi: 2005
  • 20 https://www.cambridge.org › core › British Journal of Psychiatry. vol 184, Issue 4. 2004
  • 21 Balachandran VA. Role of Homoeopathy in Psychiatry. CCRH Quarterly Bulletin 1994; 16 (1&2): xx