Focus on Alternative and Complementary Therapies
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Focus Alternat Complement Ther©2005 Pharmaceutical Press
Focus Altern Complement Ther 2003; 8: 486
Four randomised, controlled trials assessed homoeopathy in rheumatoid arthritis; three using classical homoeopathy and one complex homoeopathy (without consultation). A meta-analysis indicates that homoeopathy is more effective than placebo (OR 2.0). The positive effects from homoeopathy are unexplained; they may be attributed to the specific (remedy) and/or to the contextual effects of the consultation process. The aim of this protocol is to provide a model to identify where the therapeutic effects of homoeopathy lie, provide data on the contextual effects of the consultation and provide evidence for the plausibility of homoeopathy for rheumatoid arthritis.
An exploratory randomised, controlled pilot trial in rheumatoid arthritis patients. Patients (n = 100) will be randomised into five groups: (1) consultation with individualised treatment; (2) consultation with homoeopathic RA complex; (3) consultation with placebo; (4) homoeopathic complex without consultation; (5) placebo without consultation. Outcome measures include Outcome Measures for Arthritis Clinical Trials (OMERACT), quality of life (SF-36), and analgesic use. The primary outcome will be achievement of a 20% reduction in rheumatoid symptoms. Covariates/predictors of outcome will include patient’ expectations, sense of enablement, attitudes to, and beliefs in, complementary medicine, and perceived practitioner empathy.
We anticipate the most favourable outcomes in the consultation groups, with enhanced outcome in the classical homoeopathy group.
