Response to Individualized Homeopathic Treatment for Depression in Climacteric Women with History of Domestic Violence, Marital Dissatisfaction or Sexual Abuse: Results from the HOMDEP-MENOP Study

Abstract

Background Although individualized homeopathic treatment is effective for depression in climacteric women, there is a lack of well-designed studies of its efficacy for depression in battered women or in post-traumatic stress disorder. The aim of this study was to assess the association between individualized homeopathic treatment or fluoxetine and response to depression treatment in climacteric women with high levels of domestic violence, sexual abuse or marital dissatisfaction.

Materials and Methods One hundred and thirty-three Mexican climacteric women with moderate-to-severe depression enrolled in the HOMDEP-MENOP Study (a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, double-dummy, three-arm trial, with a 6-week follow-up study) were evaluated. Domestic violence, marital dissatisfaction and sexual abuse were assessed at baseline. Response to depression treatment was defined by a decrease of 50% or more from baseline score of Hamilton scale. Association between domestic violence, sexual abuse, and marital dissatisfaction and response to depression treatment was analyzed with bivariate analysis in the three groups. Odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated.

Results Homeopathy versus placebo had a statistically significant association with response to depression treatment after adjusting for sexual abuse (OR [95% CI]: 11.07 [3.22 to 37.96]), domestic violence (OR [95% CI]: 10.30 [3.24 to 32.76]) and marital dissatisfaction (OR [95% CI]: 8.61 [2.85 to 25.99]).

Conclusions Individualized homeopathic treatment is associated with response to depression treatment in climacteric women with high levels of domestic violence, sexual abuse or marital dissatisfaction. Further studies should be conducted to evaluate its efficacy specifically for post-traumatic stress disorder in battered women.

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01635218, URL: http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01635218?term=depression+homeopathy&rank=1

Keywords

individualized homeopathic treatment - fluoxetine - domestic violence - sexual abuse - menopause - depression - post-traumatic stress disorder - Mexico

Highlights

• Women in menopause with a history of DV and/or SA might be suffering PTSD with overlapped symptoms such as anxiety or depression.

• Individualized homeopathic treatment is associated with response to depression treatment in climacteric women with high levels of DV, SA or MA.

• There is a lack of well-designed studies of the efficacy of homeopathy for depression in battered women or in PTSD.

• Further studies should be conducted to evaluate the efficacy of homeopathy specifically for PTSD.

Authors' Contributions

E.C.M.C. and J.A.B. participated in the design of the study. E.C.M.C. and L.L.l.G. evaluated study participants. E.C.M.C., J.A.B., and L.A.F. were responsible for the analysis and interpretation of data. EC.M.C, J.A.B, and L.A.F were substantially involved in drafting and revising the manuscript and gave final approval of the submitted version of the document. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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