Klaus von Ammon

Homeopathic treatment of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: a randomised, double blind, placebo controlled crossover trial

An increasing number of parents turn to homeopathy for treatment of their hyperactive child. Two publications, a randomised, partially blinded trial and a clinical observation study, conclude that homeopathy has positive effects in patients with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The aim of this study was to obtain scientific evidence of the effectiveness of homeopathy in ADHD. A total of 83 children aged 6–16 years, with ADHD diagnosed using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-IV criteria, were recruited. Prior to the randomised, double blind, placebo controlled crossover study, they were treated with individually prescribed homeopathic medications. 62 patients, who achieved an improvement of 50% in the Conners’ Global Index (CGI), participated in the trial. Thirteen patients did not fulfill this eligibility criterion (CGI). The responders were split into two groups and received either verum for 6 weeks followed by placebo for 6 weeks (arm A), or vice-versa (arm B). At the beginning of the trial and after each crossover period, parents reported the CGI and patients underwent neuropsychological testing. The CGI rating was evaluated again at the end of each crossover period and twice in long-term follow-up. At entry to the crossover trial, cognitive performance such as visual global perception , impulsivity and divided attention, had improved significantly under open label treatment ( P<0.0001). During the crossover trial, CGI parent–ratings were significantly lower under verum (average 1.67 points) than under placebo ( P =0.0479). Long-term CGI improvement reached 12 points (63%, P <0.0001). Conclusion:The trial suggests scientific evidence of the effectiveness of homeopathy in the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, particularly in the areas of behavioural and cognitive functions.

Effectiveness, Safety and Cost-Effectiveness of Homeopathy in General Practice – Summarized Health Technology Assessment

Introduction: The Health Technology Assessment report on effectiveness, cost-effectiveness and appropriateness of homeopathy was compiled on behalf of the Swiss Federal Office for Public Health (BAG) within the framework of the ‘Program of Evaluation of Complementary Medicine (PEK)’. Materials and Methods: Databases accessible by Internet were systematically searched, complemented by manual search and contacts with experts, and evaluated according to internal and external validity criteria. Results: Many high-quality investigations of pre-clinical basic research proved homeopathic high-potencies inducing regulative and specific changes in cells or living organisms. 20 of 22 systematic reviews detected at least a trend in favor of homeopathy. In our estimation 5 studies yielded results indicating clear evidence for homeopathic therapy. The evaluation of 29 studies in the domain ‘Upper Respiratory Tract Infections/Allergic Reactions’ showed a positive overall result in favor of homeopathy. 6 out of 7 controlled studies were at least equivalent to conventional medical interventions. 8 out of 16 placebocontrolled studies were significant in favor of homeopathy. Swiss regulations grant a high degree of safety due to product and training requirements for homeopathic physicians. Applied properly, classical homeopathy has few side-effects and the use of high-potencies is free of toxic effects. A general health-economic statement about homeopathy cannot be made from the available data. Conclusion: Taking internal and external validity criteria into account, effectiveness of homeopathy can be supported by clinical evidence and professional and adequate application be regarded as safe. Reliable statements of cost-effectiveness are not available at the moment. External and model validity will have to be taken more strongly into consideration in future studies.

High prevalence but limited evidence in complementary and alternative medicine: guidelines for future research

The use of complementary and alternative Medicine (CAM) has increased over the past two decades in Europe. Nonetheless, research investigating the evidence to support its use remains limited. The CAMbrella project funded by the European Commission aimed to develop a strategic research agenda starting by systematically evaluating the state of CAM in the EU. CAMbrella involved 9 work packages covering issues such as the definition of CAM; its legal status, provision and use in the EU; and a synthesis of international research perspectives. Based on the work package reports, we developed a strategic and methodologically robust research roadmap based on expert workshops, a systematic Delphi-based process and a final consensus conference. The CAMbrella project suggests six core areas for research to examine the potential contribution of CAM to the health care challenges faced by the EU. These areas include evaluating the prevalence of CAM use in Europe; the EU cititzens’ needs and attitudes regarding CAM; the safety of CAM; the comparative effectiveness of CAM; the effects of meaning and context on CAM outcomes; and different models for integrating CAM into existing health care systems. CAM research should use methods generally accepted in the evaluation of health services, including comparative effectiveness studies and mixed-methods designs. A research strategy is urgently needed, ideally led by a European CAM coordinating research office dedicated to fostering systematic communication between EU governments, the public, charitable and industry funders, researchers and other stakeholders. A European Centre for CAM should also be established to monitor and further a coordinated research strategy with sufficient funds to commission and promote high quality, independent research focusing on the public’s health needs and pan-European collaboration. There is a disparity between highly prevalent use of CAM in Europe and solid knowledge about it. A strategic approach on CAM research should be established to investigate the identified gaps of knowledge and to address upcoming health care challenges.

Patient satisfaction and side effects in primary care: An observational study comparing homeopathy and conventional medicine

BackgroundThis study is part of a nationwide evaluation of complementary medicine in Switzerland (Programme Evaluation of Complementary Medicine PEK) and was funded by the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health. The main objective of this study is to investigate patient satisfaction and perception of side effects in homeopathy compared with conventional care in a primary care setting.MethodsWe examined data from two cross-sectional studies conducted in 2002–2003. The first study was a physician questionnaire assessing structural characteristics of practices. The second study was conducted on four given days during a 12-month period in 2002/2003 using a physician and patient questionnaire at consultation and a patient questionnaire mailed to the patient one month later (including Europep questionnaire).The participating physicians were all trained and licensed in conventional medicine. An additional qualification was required for medical doctors providing homeopathy (membership in the Swiss association of homeopathic physicians SVHA).ResultsA total of 6778 adult patients received the questionnaire and 3126 responded (46.1%). Statistically significant differences were found with respect to health status (higher percentage of chronic and severe conditions in the homeopathic group), perception of side effects (higher percentage of reported side effects in the conventional group) and patient satisfaction (higher percentage of satisfied patients in the homeopathic group).ConclusionOverall patient satisfaction was significantly higher in homeopathic than in conventional care. Homeopathic treatments were perceived as a low-risk therapy with two to three times fewer side effects than conventional care

EU FP7 Project ‘CAMbrella’ to Build European Research Network for Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Background: The status of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) within the EU needs clarification. The definition and terminology of CAM is heterogeneous. The therapies, legal status, regulations and approaches used vary from country to country but there is widespread use by EU citizens. A coordination project funded by the EU has been launched to improve the knowledge about CAM in Europe. Objectives and Methods: The project aims to evaluate the conditions surrounding CAM use and provision in Europe and to develop a roadmap for European CAM research. Specific objectives are to establish an EU network involving centres of research excellence for collaborative projects, to develop consensus-based terminology to describe CAM interventions, to create a knowledge base that facilitates the understanding of patient demand for CAM and its prevalence, to review the current legal status and policies governing CAM provision, and to explore the needs and attitudes of EU citizens with respect to CAM. Based on this information a roadmap will be created that will enable sustainable and prioritised future European research in CAM. CAMbrella encompasses 16 academic research groups from 12 European countries and will run for 36 months starting from January 2010. The project will be delivered in 9 work packages coordinated by a Management Board and directed by a Scientific Steering Committee with support of an Advisory Board. Output: The outcomes generated will be disseminated through the project’s website, peer review open access publications and a final conference, with emphasis on current and future EU policies, addressing different target audiences.

Complementary and alternative medicine provision in Europe - first results approaching reality in an unclear field of practices

Background: The demand for complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) treatment in the European Union (EU) has led to an increase in the various CAM interventions available to the public. Our aim was to describe the CAM services available from both registered medical practitioners and registered non-medical practitioners. Methods: Our literature search comprised a PubMed search of any scientific publications, secondary references and so-called grey literature, a search of government websites and websites of CAM organisations to collect data in a systematic manner, and personal communications, e.g., via e-mail contact. Due to the different reliability of data sources, a classification was developed and implemented. This weighted database was condensed into tables and maps to display the provision of CAM disciplines by country, showing the distribution of CAM providers across countries. Results: Approximately 305,000 registered CAM providers can be identified in the EU (∼160,000 non-medical and ∼145,000 medical practitioners). Acupuncture (n = 96,380) is the most available therapeutic method for both medical (80,000) and non-medical (16,380) practitioners, followed by homeopathy (45,000 medical and 5,800 non-medical practitioners). Herbal medicine (29,000 practitioners) and reflexology (24,600 practitioners) are mainly provided by non-medical practitioners. Naturopathy (22,300) is dominated by 15,000 (mostly German) doctors. Anthroposophic medicine (4,500) and neural therapy (1,500) are practised by doctors only. Conclusion: CAM provision in the EU is maintained by approximately 305,000 registered medical doctors and non-medical practitioners, with a huge variability in its national regulatory management, which makes any direct comparison across the EU almost impossible. Harmonisation of legal status, teaching and certification of expertise for therapists would be of enormous value and should be developed.

Key Issues in Clinical and Epidemiological Research in Complementary and Alternative Medicine - a Systematic Literature Review

Background: In the last 2 decades there has been a large increase in publications on complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). However, CAM research methodology was heterogeneous and often of low quality. The aim of this systematic review was to investigate scientific publications with regards to general issues, concepts and strategies. We also looked at research priorities and methods employed to evaluate the clinical and epidemiological research of CAM in the past to identify the basis for consensus-based research strategies. Methods: We performed a systematic literature search for papers published between 1990 and 2010 in 7 electronic databases (Medline, Web of Science, PsychArticles, PsycInfo, CINAHL, EMBASE and Cochrane Library) on December 16 and 17, 2010. In addition, experts were asked to nominate relevant papers. Inclusion criteria were publications dealing with research methodology, priorities or complexities in the scientific evaluation of CAM. All references were assessed in a multistage process to identify relevant papers. Results: From the 3,279 references derived from the search and 98 references contributed by CAM experts, 170 papers fulfilled the criteria and were included in the analysis. The following key issues were identified: difficulties in past CAM research (e.g., randomisation, blinding), utility of quantitative and qualitative research methods in CAM, priority setting in CAM research and specific issues regarding various CAM modalities. Conclusions: Most authors vote for the use of commonly accepted research methods to evaluate CAM. There was broad consensus that a mixed methods approach is the most suitable for gathering conclusive knowledge about CAM.

Complementary individual homeopathy in paediatric cancer care: A case series from a University Hospital, Switzerland

The Department of Haematology/Oncology at the University Childrens Hospital Bern (HONK), has adopted an integrative approach in addition to state of the art oncological care and implemented a collaboration with the Institute of Complementary Medicine IKOM, University of Bern, over the past 10 years. Stakeholder satisfaction with this service was high. We present descriptive data and report on 4 exemplary patients treated with additional individualized homeopathy (iHOM). Data concerning frequency of consultations, pathologies, follow-ups and clinical results were reviewed and summarized using descriptive statistics. 94 paediatric oncologic patients consulted for iHOM. Indications for the complementary treatment was wide-ranging. No interactions with conventional treatment and no adverse side-effects of iHOM were detected. We present four characteristic patient histories, in which iHOM was used in addition to standard treatment for mucositis, permissive tissue infection, insomnia and affective dysfunctions. All four patients clinically improved in an immediate temporal relationship to the additional treatment. CONCLUSION: The collaboration between HONK and IKOM established iHOM in paediatric oncology in Bern. In this setting, iHOM was a safe and supportive additional treatment for various indications during the conventional cancer care. However, no generalizable results can be deducted from these data. We emphasize future research on this topic.

Berufszufriedenheit von Schweizer Hausärzten mit und ohne Fähigkeitsausweis Homöopathie SVHA/SIWF

HINTERGRUND: Zur Berufszufriedenheit von Hausarzten gibt es zahlreiche Studien, die unter anderem zeigen, dass ein direkter Zusammenhang zwischen Behandlungsqualitat und Gesundheitskosten besteht. In einer in Deutschland 2011 durchgefuhrten Untersuchung von Joos et al. ergaben sich Hinweise, dass Allgemeinmediziner, welche eine positive Einstellung zu komplementaren Behandlungsmethoden haben und eine solche Methode auch selber ausuben, eine hohere Berufszufriedenheit aufweisen. Fur die Schweiz existiert keine entsprechende Untersuchung.
 METHODE: Die Messung der Berufszufriedenheit erfolgte durch den von Bovier und Perneger 2003 in Genf validierten Fragebogen. Anhand von 17 Fragen werden die funf Aspekte Patientenversorgung, Arbeitsbelastung, Einkommen/soziales Ansehen, personlicher Gewinn und Beziehung zu KollegInnen evaluiert. Die Befragung erfolgte schriftlich bei den Teilnehmern der SwissFamilyDocs Conference in Bern 2013 (n=143) und via Onlinefragebogen bei Tragern des Fahigkeitsausweises Homoopathie SVHA (n=125).
 RESULTATE: Die beiden Gruppen unterscheiden sich nicht in der ubergeordneten allgemeinen Berufszufriedenheit, jedoch kommt es bei 6 der 17 Antworten zu signifikanten Unterschieden. Hohere Zufriedenheitswerte ergaben sich fur die Hausarzten mit Fahigkeitsausweis Homoopathie bei der Beziehung zu den betreuten Patienten, der Arbeitsbelastung und der Zeit fur Familie, Freunde und Freizeitaktivitat. Tiefere Zufriedenheitswerte zeigten sich beim Einkommen, den Fortbildungsmoglichkeiten und bei der beruflichen Beziehung/dem Austausch mit Kollegen. 
 DISKUSSION: Hausarzte mit Zusatzqualifikation in Homoopathie arbeiten durchschnittlich ungefahr 10h pro Woche weniger als Hausarzte in der Vergleichsgruppe. Es ist naheliegend, dass dies in der Umfrage einerseits dazu fuhrte, dass die Zufriedenheit mit der Arbeitsbelastung und mit der Zeit fur Familie, Freunde und Freizeitaktivitaten signifikant hoher und anderseits die Zufriedenheit mit dem Einkommen signifikant tiefer ausfallt. Die hochsten Zufriedenheitswerte ergaben sich fur beide Gruppen bei der Beziehung zu den betreuten Patienten und bei der Beziehung zum nicht-arztlichen Praxispersonal. Dagegen waren beide Gruppen am wenigsten zufrieden mit dem Aufwand fur Verwaltungsarbeit und mit der Vergutung fur die hausarztliche Tatigkeit. Diese Ergebnisse zeigen auf, wo sich die Berufszufriedenheit der Schweizer Hausarzte und damit indirekt auch die Behandlungsqualitat weiter verbessern liesse.

Einheit der Diagnose und Vielheit der Therapien: Ergebnis haus- und kinderärztlicher Behandlung von Störungen der Aufmerksamkeit und Hyperaktivität bei Kindern und Jugendlichen 10 Jahre nach Integration verschiedener Behandlungsoptionen

Aufmerksamkeitsstorungen mit und ohne Hyperaktivitat (AHDS/ ADS) gehoren zu den haufigsten neuropsychiatrischen Diagnosen bei Kindern und Jugendlichen. Stimulantien haben einen hohen Stellenwert bei konventioneller multimodaler Behandlung und unerwunschte Auswirkungen, die nach anderen Therapieoptionen rufen. Es interessiert das Behandlungsergebnis einer einheitlich rekrutierten mit AD(H)S diagnostizierten Kohorte unter verschiedenen Therapieformen. Die Kinder, die nicht am Doppelblind-Versuch der Berner ADHSStudie (Frei H 2005) teilnahmen, werden in 3 diagnostische Gruppen klassifiziert: (A) AD(H)S-Diagnose und homoopathische Therapie (n = 12), (B) AD(H)S-Diagnose und vorwiegend andere Therapien (n = 13), (C) nicht eindeutige AD(H)S-Diagnose und verschiedene Therapieformen (n = 14). Der Behandlungsverlauf wird mit dem Conners’ Global Index (CGI) und offenen Fragen per Fragebogen oder Telefoninterview dokumentiert und uberwiegend deskriptiv ausgewertet. Nach 10 Jahren gibt es CGI-Datensatze von 35/39 Personen (90%; 5 weiblich, 30 mannlich). Die CGI-Differenz zwischen Diagnose (19.5, Bereich 14–28 Punkte) und Nachuntersuchung (8.7, 1–19) betrug fur alle Patienten 10.8 Punkte (56%): in Gruppe A 61%, in den Gruppen B und C je 53%. Von den seit Rekrutierung einmal mit Methylphenidat (MPH, n = 22/39, 56%) behandelten Patienten waren 18 Patienten (82%), von den mit individueller Homoopathie Behandelten (n = 29/39, 75%) waren 17 Patienten (59%) im CGI mehr als 50% verbessert; je 7 Patienten bekamen beide Therapien. Bei 23/39 Patienten (60%) sind die MPHoder homoopathische Therapie abgeschlossen. Zwolf (12) Patienten sind noch in Behandlung: 9 mit MPH, 2 mit Homoopathie und 1 Patient mit beiden Therapien. Bei je drei Patienten waren homoopathische oder MPH-Medikamente nicht genugend erfolgreich, ein Patient erhielt ein Antidepressivum. In Ubereinstimmung mit den CGI-Werten bezeichnen 25/35 Patienten (80%) ihr Befinden als besser. Sieben (7) Patienten (20%) bezeichnen ihr Befinden als gleich, obwohl die Differenz zum Ausgangswert mehr als 9 (10–14) Punkte (ca. 50% Besserung) betragt. Der aktuelle CGI-Wert ist bei 4 dieser Patienten grosser als 14 Punkte und zeigt die Behandlungsbedurftigkeit an. Je 3 dieser 7 Patienten hatten oder haben noch MPH-Therapie mit einer Besserung von derzeit 40%. Die individuelle homoopathische Behandlung des AD(H)S scheint qualitativ der Stimulantientherapie ebenburtig zu sein und kann deren Nebenwirkungen vermeiden.