Homeopathy. 2016 Feb;105(1):84-91. doi: 10.1016/j.homp.2015.07.002. Epub 2015 Aug 29.
- 1Laboratoires Boiron, 2 Avenue de l'Ouest Lyonnais, 69510 Messimy, France. Electronic address: stephanie.villet@boiron.fr.
- 2Laboratoires Boiron, 2 Avenue de l'Ouest Lyonnais, 69510 Messimy, France.
Abstract
BACKGROUND:
Anxiety and sleep disorders (SDS) are frequently treated with psychotropic drugs. Health authorities in France
have been advised to improve access to alternative treatments such as
homeopathic medicines. Our aim was to describe the socio-demographic
characteristics and clinical progression of patients prescribed
homeopathic medicine Passiflora Compose (PC) for anxiety and/or SDS.
MATERIAL AND METHODS:
This
was an open-label, observational study. Randomly selected general
practitioners (GPs) known to prescribe homeopathic medicines recruited
consecutive patients (≥18-years) prescribed PC. The following data were
recorded at inclusion by the GP: socio-demographic data and anxiety
severity (Hamilton anxiety rating scale or HAM-A); and by the patients:
level of anxiety (STAI Spielberger self-assessment questionnaire) and
SDS (Jenkins sleep scale or JSS). Anxiety and SDS were reassessed after 4
weeks of treatment using the same scales.
RESULTS:
A
total of 639 patients (mean age: 46.3 ± 17.5 years; 78.6% female) were
recruited by 98 GPs. Anxiety was present in 85.4% (HAM-A) and 93.3%
(Spielberger State) at inclusion (mean scores: 17.8 ± 8.91 and
54.59 ± 11.69, respectively) and SDS was present in 74.0% (mean score:
15.24 ± 5.28). A total of 401 (62.7%) patients received PC alone and 167
(26.1%) PC + psychotropics. After 4 weeks, mean anxiety scores
decreased by more than 7, 12 and 6 points (HAM-A, Spielberger State and
Trait respectively), and SDS score by more than 4 points (JSS).
CONCLUSION:
Anxiety
and/or SDS improved significantly in patients included on this study.
PC could be an alternative to the use of psychotropic drugs for first
intention treatment of anxiety and SDS. Further studies are needed to
confirm those results.
Copyright © 2015 The Faculty of Homeopathy. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
KEYWORDS:
Anxiety; Homeopathy; Observational study; Passiflora Compose; Psychotropic drugs; Sleep disorders
