The long-term effects of homeopathic treatment of chronic headaches: 1 year follow up.
Little is known about the long-term effects of homeopathic treatment. Following a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of classical homeopathy in chronic headaches, we conducted a complete follow-up study of all trial participants. All patients enrolled in the double-blind study were sent a 6-week headache diary, a follow-up questionnaire. Eighty-seven of the original 98 patients enrolled returned questionnaires, 81 returned diaries. There was no additional change from the end of the trial to the 1-year follow up. The improvement seen at the end of the 12-week trial was stable after 1 year. No differential effects according to treatment after the trial could be seen. Patients with no treatment following the trial had the most improvement after 1 year. Approximately 30% of patients in homeopathic treatment will benefit after 1 year of treatment. There is no indication of a specific, or of a delayed effect of homeopathy.
Walach
H
H
Department of Environmental Medicine and Hygiene, University Hospital Freiberg, Germany. walach@ukl.uni-freiburg.de
Lowes
T
T
Mussbach
D
D
Schamell
U
U
Springer
W
W
Stritzl
G
G
Haag
G
G
D002908:Chronic Disease; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006261:Headache / Q000628:therapy*; D006705:Homeopathy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008499:Medical Records; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires