title: Homeopathy has clinical benefits in rheumatoid arthritis patients that are attributable to the consultation process but not the homeopathic remedy: a randomized controlled clinical trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess whether any benefits from adjunctive homeopathic intervention in patients with RA are due to the homeopathic consultation, homeopathic remedies or both.
  
  
  METHODS
  Exploratory double-blind, randomized placebo-controlled trial conducted from January 2008 to July 2008, in patients with active stable RA receiving conventional therapy. Eighty-three participants from three secondary care UK outpatient clinics were randomized to 24 weeks of treatment with either homeopathic consultation (further randomized to individualized homeopathy, complex homeopathy or placebo) or non-homeopathic consultation (further randomized to complex homeopathy or placebo). Co-primary outcomes: ACR 20% improvement (ACR20) criteria and patient monthly global assessment (GA).
  
  
  RESULTS
  28-joint DAS (DAS-28), tender and swollen joint count, disease severity, pain, weekly patient and physician GA and pain, and inflammatory markers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifty-six completed treatment phase. No significant differences were observed for either primary outcome. There was no clear effect due to remedy type. Receiving a homeopathic consultation significantly improved DAS-28 [mean difference 0.623; 95% CI 0.1860, 1.060; P = 0.005; effect size (ES) 0.70], swollen joint count (mean difference 3.04; 95% CI 1.055, 5.030; P = 0.003; ES 0.83), current pain (mean difference 9.12; 95% CI 0.521, 17.718; P = 0.038; ES 0.48), weekly pain (mean difference 6.017; 95% CI 0.140, 11.894; P = 0.045; ES 0.30), weekly patient GA (mean difference 6.260; 95% CI 0.411, 12.169; P = 0.036; ES 0.31) and negative mood (mean difference - 4.497; 95% CI -8.071, -0.923; P = 0.015; ES 0.90).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Homeopathic consultations but not homeopathic remedies are associated with clinically relevant benefits for patients with active but relatively stable RA.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Current controlled trials, http://www.controlled-trials.com/, ISRCTN09712705.
authors.affiliation: Complementary and Integrated Medicine Research Unit, Primary Medical Care, Aldermoor Health Centre, Aldermoor Close, Southampton SO16 5ST, UK. s.brien@southampton.ac.uk
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Brien
authors.forename: Laurie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lachance
authors.forename: Phil
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Prescott
authors.forename: Clare
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: McDermott
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lewith
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006705:Homeopathy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008419:Materia Medica / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology; D012016:Reference Values; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D006113:United Kingdom
chemical_list: D008419:Materia Medica