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Depression: Homeopathy can help patients

Depression is one of the main healthcare problems in the world. The World Health Organization (WHO) expects depression to become the second most common form of ill-health by 20201. It is one of the most commonly treated conditions by homeopaths. Research confirms the positive experience homeopaths have in treating patients suffering from depression.


Conventional treatment is insufficient and potentially harmful

Conventional treatment is often inadequate to treat depression2-3. Anti-depressants have been found to have only a modest benefit over placebo4 and there is the associated risk of side-effects. Researchers say there is little reason to prescribe antidepressants to any but the most severely depressed patients4. Moreover, 40-60 % of depressed patients relapse after conventional treatment5. Alternatives are desperately needed.

Homeopathy frequently used with positive results

Documentation has shown that depression is one of the most commonly treated conditions by homeopaths6-14. In a 6-year study of 6 544 patients in a university hospital outpatient clinic, 205 were treated for depression and as many as 71 % improved13. In a survey of 1 783 patient conditions, depression was the most frequently treated condition and significant improvement was experienced by 63.6 % of the depressed patients14.

As effective as anti-depressives and no side effects

Several trials indicate effectiveness of homeopathy in the treatment of patients suffering from depression13-22. A randomized, double-blind trial of 55 patients suffering from moderate to severe depression, found homeopathy to be at least as effective as anti-depressant drugs19. Homeopathy patients did not experience troublesome side effects that were seen in the anti-depressant group.

Also helpful for patients with associated depression

Homeopathy not only helps patients who primarily suffer from depression, but it has also been shown to reduce associated depression in patients diagnosed with other conditions, such as in fibromyalgia syndrome21 and after oestrogen withdrawal in breast cancer patients22.

Cost-effective treatment

Depression is one of the most common reasons for employees taking time off work. In Europe alone, depression costs are estimated to be over 100 Billion Euros annually2. Homeopathy has the potential to serve as a cost effective treatment23-31 and could contribute significantly when we know that 4.5 % of all European citizens suffer from depression2.

For safe and effective homeopathic treatment, patients should make sure that the practitioner they consult is a registered member of an ECCH or ICH Member Association. For information, please refer to www.homeopathy-ecch.eu and outside Europe www.homeopathy-ich.org

References 1. World Health Organization (WHO) Mental Health, Depression.

http://www.who.int/mental_health/management/depression/definition/en/ (16.09.2009)

2. Fava GA. The intellectual crisis of psychiatric research. Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics 2006;75:202-208.

3. Fava GA, Ruini C. Development and characteristic of a well-being enhancing psychotherapeutic strategy: well- being therapy. Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry 2003;34:45-63.

4. Kirsch I, Deacon BJ, Huedo-Medina TB, Scoboria A, Moore TJ, Johnson BT. Initial severity and antidepressant benefits: A meta-analysis of data submitted to the Food and Drug Administration. PLoS Medicine 2008, 5(2), 260- 268.

5. Rush JA, Trivedi MH, Wisniewski SR, Nierenberg AA, Stewart JW, Warden D, et al. Acute and longer-term outcomes in depressed outpatients requiring one or several treatment steps: A STAR*D report, American Journal of Psychiatry 2006, 163, 1905-1917.

6. Viksveen P, Steinsbekk A. Changes in patients visiting a homeopathic clinic in Norway from 1994 to 2004. Homeopathy 2005, 94, 222-228.

7. Sevar R. Audit of outcome in 455 consecutive patients treated with homeopathic medicines. Homeopathy 2005, 94, 215-221.

8. Jacobs J, Chapman EH, Crothers D. Patient characteristics and practice patterns of physicians using homeopathy. Arch Fam Med 1998, 7, 537-540.

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10. Makich L, Hussain R, Humphries JH. Management of depression by homeopathic practitioners in Sydney, Australia. Complementary Therapies in Medicine 2007, 15, 199-206.

11. Relton C, Chatfield K, Partington H, Foulkes L. Patients treated by homeopaths registered with the Society of Homeopaths: a pilot study. Homeopathy 2007, 96, 87-89.

12. Jonas WB, Kaptchuk TJ, Linde K. A critical overview of homeopathy. Annals of Internal Medicine 2003, 138(5), 393-400.

13. Spence DS, Thompson EA, Barron SJ. Homeopathic treatment for chronic disease: A 6-year, university-hospital outpatient observational study. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine 2005, 11(5), 793-798.

14. Mathie RT, Robinson TW. Outcomes from homeopathic prescribing in medical practice: A prospective, research- targeted, pilot study. Homeopathy 2006, 95, 199-205.

15. Walters C, Batty J. An evaluation of the effectiveness of homeopathic treatment for anxiety and depression using MYMOP2: results of a two-year pilot project in North Kirklees. In Darnell P, Pinder M, Treacy K. (Eds.) Searching for evidence: complementary therapies research, 2006. London: The Prince of Wales’s Foundation for Integrated Health.

16. Pilkington K, Kirkwood G, Rampes H, Fisher P, Richardson J. Homeopathy for depression: a systematic review of the research evidence. Homeopathy 2005, 94, 153-163.

17. Heulluy B. Essai randomise ouvert de L 72 (spécialité homéopathique) contre diazépam 2 dans les états anxiodépressifs. Metz: Laboratoires Lehning, 1985.

18. Davidson JR, Morrison RM, Shore J, Davidson RT, Bedayn G. Homeopathic treatment of depression and anxiety. Altern Ther Health Med. 3(1):46-9, 1997 Jan.

19. Adler UC, Paiva NM, Cesar AT, Adler MS, Molina A, Padula AE, Calil HM. Homeopathic individualized Q- potencies versus fluoxetine for moderate to severe depression: Double-blind, randomized non-inferiority trial. eCAM 2009. doi:10.1093/ecam/nep114.

20. Bell I. Depression research in homeopathy: Hopeless or hopeful? Homeopathy 2005, 94, 141-144.

21. Bell IR, Lewis DA II, Brooks AJ, Schwartz GE, Lewis SE, Walsh BT, Baldwin CM. Improved clinical status in fibromyalgia patients treated with individualized homeopathic remedies versus placebo. Rheumatology 2004. doi: 10.1093/rheumatology/keh111

22. Thompson EA, Reilly D. The homeopathic approach to the treatment of symptoms of oestrogen withdrawal in breast cancer patients. A prospective observational study. Homeopathy 2003, 92(3):131-4.

23. Dempster A. Homeopathy within the NHS; Evaluation of homeopathic treatment of common mental health problem 1995-1997, 1988, Society of Homeopaths.

24. French Government Report. Social Security Statistics, CNAM (National Inter-Regulations System) 1991, 61.

25. Homoeopathy: The Guide (CDRom), HomInform 1997, June 1.

26. Jain A. Does homeopathy reduce the cost of conventional drug prescribing? A study of comparative prescribing costs in general practice. Homeopathy 2003, 92, 71-76.

27. Sharples F, van Haselen R. Patients’ perspective on using a complementary medicine approach to their health: A survey at the Royal London Homoeopathic Hospital NHS Trust, 1998.

28. Slade K, Chohan BPS, Barker PJ. Evaluation of a GP practice based homeopathy service. Homeopathy 2004, 93, 67–70.

29. Swayne J. The cost and effectiveness of homoeopathy. Br Homeopath J 1992, 81: 148–50. 30. Van Wassenhoven M, Ives G. An observational study of patients receiving Homeopathic treatment. Homeopathy

2004, 93, 3–11. 31. Ward A, Christie E. Report on NHS practice based homeopathy project, 1996. Society of Homeopaths.