“Regaining Emotional Awareness and Finding Back to Inner Structure.” Phenomenology of Homeopathy in Depression: A Clinical Study in Mixed-methods Design

Background: According to the World Health Organization (WHO), depression will become the main disease worldwide by 2030. Currently, depression is one of the most frequent indications for homeopathic treatment. The aim of this trial is to investigate the phenomenology and efficacy of individualized homeopathic treatment (IHT) on depressed patients.

Methods: A clinical study in mixed-methods design was conducted utilizing semi-structured retrospective interviews with patients, suffering from mild to moderate depression. All patients were under IHT. Content analysis was used to develop categories and sub-categories. Additionally, the depression scales of the Patients Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) before (T1) and after (T2) IHT were analyzed using univariate statistics.

Results: Ten patients (N = 10) with clinically relevant depression were interviewed. Two main categories were generated. In the first main category, closely linked to the ICD-10 Criteria, improvements in the sub-categories “Emotions,” “Cognition,” “Energy,” “Sleep” and “Somatic Ailments” were shown. In the second main category, titled Holistic Approach, three sub-categories with six themes compiled more specific changes during treatment. In the first sub-category, named “Perception,” changes to a more appropriate inner distance toward negative emotions and life challenges as well as enhanced affectivity and affect differentiation occurred. In the second sub-category the “State of Health” ameliorated through a regain of lost substantial resources and structures with improved regenerative skills. In the third sub-category “Realization” a broader ability of self-realization and a deeper view of oneself was ascribed. Furthermore, the means of the PHQ-9 depression values decreased from T1 (M = 14.30, SD = 4.34) to T2 (M = 3.50, SD = 1.84) by 10.8 points highly significant (p = 0.000) toward clinical health.

Discussion: These results strengthen former IHT research outcomes. Moreover, these profound findings contrast with ascribed negative side effects of allopathic antidepressants and may serve to integrate IHT as a beneficial treatment for depression in health care systems.

Keywords: Depression, individualized homeopathic treatment, phenomenology, clinical research, mixed-methods design

 

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Artikel online veröffentlicht:
30. Januar 2024