To study efficacy of individualized homoeopathic medicine for management of mild to moderate depression in postmenopausal women

Abstract

INTRODUCTION newlinePsychological problems and particularly depression is one of the common issues menopausal women face in the modern societies. In 1990, about 25 million women worldwide reached menopause, and this number is expected to double by 2020s. Women now spend 1/3 of their life in post-menopausal phase thus, maintaining their health and welfare in this period is of high importance in terms of preventing socioeconomic losses in the current and future millennium. Aim of present study was to evaluate Efficacy of individualized homeopathic medicines in Postmenopausal women with mild to moderate depression. Objectives of present study was to assess the efficacy of individualized homoeopathic medicines for management of mild to moderate depression in Postmenopausal women using Hamilton Depression Rating Scale and to ascertain most frequently indicated homoeopathic medicines in management of mild to moderate depression in menopausal women. newlineMETHODS newlineIt was a Prospective randomized single blinded placebo-controlled trial in which participants are blinded conducted at Rajasthan Vidyapeeth Homoeopathic Medical College and Hospital, Dabok. The Study was undertaken for a period of 12 months. Participants were recruited since Sep 2019 Until Dec 2019. The required sample size of this study was estimated to be 70 patients, with 35 assigned to each group. First 35 newlineiii newlinepatients included in study were assigned Group I i.e. Individualized Homoeopathic medicines along with psychotherapy and next 35 patients were allocated Group II i.e., Placebo group along with psychotherapy. After careful interpretation of the repertorial results and in consultation of Materia Medica, the indicated remedy was prescribed to each patient. The potency, dose and repetition of the remedy was determined based on the homoeopathic principles. Evaluation of changes in HRSD score was done at every month for 9 months in both Group I and Group II. Statistical technique and data analysis was done by Mean, SD, Independent t test to make comparison between scores of HRSD Scale before and after treatment in each group and comparison of data of both the groups was also be made to compare the effects of indicated homoeopathic treatment and Placebo in the management of postmenopausal depression. The response to the treatment was assessed with the help of SPSS version 22. newlineRESULTS newlineIn this study based on HAM D scale of depression 49% and 46% were in mild depression in Group I and Group II respectively while 51% and 54% were in moderate depression in Group I and Group II respectively before Treatment Further, the HAM D scores of both groups compared after the treatment at the end of nine months to assess the effect of treatment, based on HAM D scale of depression 89% subjects were with no depression, 11% subjects were of mild depression and no subjects with moderate and severe depression in Group I after homeopathic treatment. While in Group II there were only 5.7% subjects with no depression, 48.6% with mild depression, 42.9% with moderate depression and 2.9 % subjects in severe intensity of depression after placebo treatment. newlineBefore treatment Chi-Square test was applied, the result presented shows that no significant difference between two groups and, p-value in all the variable was found to newlineiv newlinebe more than 0.05. Hence confirmed that the two groups of participants were welland#8208; matched for age, age of menopause, Habitat, Education, Occupation, socioeconomic status, marital status, Relation with partner, H/O smoking, and H/O Depression. newlineBefore treatment, independent t test was applied between Group I and Group II in which results showed that Difference in HAM D Mean Score ± Difference in HAM D Std. Deviation for Group I respondents (n=35) was 11.8571 ± 2.46317 and for Group II respondents (n=35) were 2.1143 ± 2.64321, Difference in HAM D Mean Score mean score for Group I is more than that of Group II. Further to reconfirm the results statistically independent t test was applied on the and#8213;difference in HAM D Mean Score before and after treatment of patients of Group I and Group IIand#8214;, that Difference in HAM D Mean Score ± Difference in HAM D SD for Group I respondents (n=35) was 11.8571 ± 2.46317 and for Group II respondents (n=35) were 2.1143 ± 2.64321, Difference in HAM D Mean Score mean score for Group I is more than that of Group II. Since the p- value of Levene s Test (Sig. = 0.377) for Equality of Variances was found to be more than 0.05, the researcher has assumed equal variance and significance value of t-test was found to be less than 0.05. newlineKEYWORDS: postmenopausal depression, Homoeopathy, Menopause newline