NCT01178255

Efficacy and Safety of Homeopathy for Moderate Depression (Acute Phase)

Homeopathy for Depression: a Randomized, Partially Double-blind, Placebo Controlled, Four Armed Study DEP-HOM

• Status: Terminated
• Phase: Phase 3
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 44 (actual)
• Sponsor: Charite University, Berlin, Germany · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 65 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

To assess the two components of individualized homeopathic treatment for acute depression, i.e., to investigate the specific effect of individualized Q-potencies versus placebo and to investigate the effect of different approaches to the homeopathic case history taking(defined in this study as case history taking type I and II).

Detailed description

Homeopathy is often sought by patients with depression. In classical homeopathy, the treatment consists of two main elements: the taking of the case history and the prescription of an individually selected homeopathic remedy. Homeopathic medicines are produced through sequential, agitated dilutions. A Q-Potency is prepared by grinding the raw material, followed by a process of consecutive 1:50.000 agitated dilutions. Previous data suggest that individualized homeopathic Q-potencies were non inferior to the antidepressant fluoxetine in a sample of patients with moderate to severe major depression. The question remains whether individualized homeopathic Q-potencies have a specific therapeutical effect in acute depression as this has not yet been investigated.

Conditions

• Major Depression

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
DRUG	homeopathic q-potencies	individualised homeopathic medicines
DRUG	Placebo	placebo
OTHER	homeopathic case history taking type I	one special homeopathic technique for case history taking
OTHER	homeopathic case history type II	another type of homeopathic case history taking

Timeline

• Start date: 2010-08-01
• Primary completion: 2011-07-01
• Completion: 2011-07-01
• First posted: 2010-08-10
• Last updated: 2012-07-10

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Germany