International Journal of Homoeopathic Sciences

Background: “Depression–Let’s talk” was the slogan for World Health Day 2017. Depression is an extremely common illness which contributes to significant disease burden at national and global levels, especially of the adolescent age group.

Objectives: To ascertain the role of homoeopathic medicines in the management of moderate depression in adolescent age group.

Material and Methods: 44 patients were enrolled. An open observational clinical trial was conducted at Out Patient Department of National Institute of Homoeopathy, Kolkata. HDRS-17 and PHQ-9 Score level was recorded at baseline, at 3 months and after 6 months of treatment for assessing the primary and secondary outcomes respectively. Medicines were prescribed on the basis of strict homoeopathic principles.

Result: 12 patients dropped-out, 32 patients completed the trial. Protocol–compliant sample (n=32) was analyzed at the end. HDRS-17 Score Baseline Vs HDRS-17 Score at 3 months Vs HDRS-17 Score at 6 months: Mean was reduced from 15.5 (SD 3.464) to 8.81 (SD 2.78), to 8.71 (SD 3.87) 95% CI 1.29 to 1.02 to 1.42, P < 0.05, [One way ANOVA test] was statistically significant over 6 months of treatment. PHQ-9 Score Baseline Vs PHQ-9 Score at 3-month Vs PHQ-9 Score at 6 months: Mean was reduced from 15.28 (SD 4.09) to 9.81 (SD 3.49), to 7.31 (SD 4.78), 95% CI 1.51 to 1.30, to 1.74, P < 0.05, [One way ANOVA test] was statistically significant over 6 months of treatment.

Conclusion: The outcome of individualized homoeopathic treatment was found satisfactory with evidence of the overall improvement of the patients.