A randomized comparative trial in the management of Alcohol Dependence: Individualized Homoeopathy versus standard Allopathic Treatment

Authors

Raj Manchanda, Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy, New Delhi
K Janardanan Nair, Central Research Institute (H), Kottayam, Kerala
Roja Varanasi, Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy, New Delhi
Praveen Oberai, Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy, New Delhi
R Bhuvaneswari, Central Research Institute (H), Kottayam, Kerala
Rupali Bhalerao, Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy, New Delhi
M Gnnanaprakasham, Central Research Institute (H), Kottayam, Kerala
Maya Padmanabhan, Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy, New Delhi

Keywords

Alcohol dependence, Allopathic treatment, Individualized Homoeopathy

Article Type

Original Article

Abstract

Objectives: This study was undertaken to compare the effects of IH with standard allopathic (SA) treatment. Methods: A randomized controlled, open-label, comparative trial, was conducted, in which alcohol dependents were screened verbally using the CAGE scale. The participants 80 patients fulfilling the inclusion criteria were randomized either IH (n=40) or SA (n=40) and treated cum followed up for 12 months. The primary outcome was more than 50% reduction in the Severity of Alcohol Dependence Questionnaire [SADQ] rating scale at 12 th month. Data analysis was done for both intention-to-treat (ITT) and per-protocol (PP) populations. Results: ITT analysis reflected 80% (n = 32) of the patients in IH and 37.5% (n = 15) of the patients in the SA responding to CI before 2.4 treatment with absolute difference was 42.5% (42.5 [95% confidence interval [CI]: 23.0, 61.6]) and estimated effect: 6.6 (95% C.I: 2.4, 18.2), P = 0.0002. A significant difference favoring IH was also observed in three out of four domains of WHO QOL-BREF. Statistically significant difference was found in the number of drinking days (median difference: −24.00; CI: −39.0-−8.0; P = 0.001) and number of drinks per drinking day (median difference: −6.3 [95% CI: −11.3-−1.9]; P = 0.004), favoring IH. The results showed a similar trend in PP analysis. Medicines found useful were Sulphur, Lycopodium clavatum, Arsenicum album, Nux vomica, Phosphorus, and Lachesis. Conclusion: The results conclude that IH is not inferior to SA in the management of AD patients. More rigorous studies with large sample size are however desirable.

Digital Object Identifier

10.4103/0974-7168.188236

Publisher

Wolters Kluwer India Pvt. Ltd.

How to cite this article

Manchanda R, Janardanan Nair K, Varanasi R, et al. A randomized comparative trial in the management of Alcohol Dependence: Individualized Homoeopathy versus standard Allopathic Treatment. Indian J Res Homoeopathy 2016;10(3):172-181. doi: 10.4103/0974-7168.188236