Inserm CIC003, CHU Grenoble, Grenoble F-38043, Grenoble, France.
Abstract
Therapeutics
to treat or prevent anxiety are numerous but many people choose to try
non-conventional medicine such as homeopathy. This study aimed at
evaluating the effectiveness of Gelsemium 5CH and 15CH on provoked
anxiety in healthy volunteers, in comparison with placebo. This was a double-blind, single-centre, randomized, placebo-controlled
study. Eligible healthy men or women aged from 18 to 40 years without a
history of psychiatric disorders were randomly allocated to receive
Gelsemium 5 or 15CH or placebo. Anxiety was proved by performance of the
Stroop colour word test (SCWT). The primary end-point was anxiety
assessed by the State measure of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory
(STAI-S) as the absolute value and difference with baseline, according
to the treatment received. We included 180 healthy volunteers. The distribution into each treatment
group was homogenous. There was no statistical difference between
groups for the values of STAI-S at baseline, just before the SCWT and
the difference between these times (1.8 [0.20 to 3.4], 1.0 [-0.6 to 2.6]
and 1.4 [-0.3 to 3.0] for Gelsemium 15CH, 5CH and placebo
respectively). Likewise, no statistical difference was observed between
groups in anxiety as measured by a Visual Analogue Scale and the
Competitive State Anxiety Inventory. Mean arterial pressure and heart
rate significantly increased (P < 0.001) but no interaction between
time prior to provoked anxiety and treatment
was shown (P = 0.59 and P = 0.46, respectively). Gelsemium 5CH and 15CH
do not prevent anticipatory anxiety in the conditions used in this
study.
© 2011 The Authors Fundamental and Clinical Pharmacology © 2011 Société Française de Pharmacologie et de Thérapeutique.
