Research Projects
Case series of 20 children diagnosed with ADHD treated with homeopathy for a year
This case series will investigate the following questions: Is there evidence to suggest the validity of homeopathic treatment for this client group? Which particular homeopathic treatment methods seem most effective? More
Overview:
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a condition affecting increasing numbers of children. Anecdotal evidence suggests that Homeopathic treatment is effective. Current clinical trials have used specific homeopathic methodologies and trial structures. Results reflect the effectiveness of the particular approaches. This observational study aims to explore the variety of methodologies available, and see whether any conclusions can be reached as to what constitutes 'best practice' for this client group.
20 children age 5-16 from two geographical areas (Thames Valley and Northamptonshire) are being treated for a year each. Children receive an initial consultation and 6 follow ups at 6 week intervals, mirroring normal homeopathic practice. Children in Northamptonshire are seen in a clinical setting. Children in Thames Valley are seen in their own homes.
Outcome measures are Conners 80 point Parent's Rating scale administered at 1st consultation; 6 months and 1 year; MYMOP 2 administered at each consultation. At each consultation the homeopath notes the methodology used and outlines the rationale.
Current status:
The project protocol has been peer reviewed and validated by the HRI Scientific Advisory Committee. Recruitment and treatment of children began in April 2010.To date, 16 children have received homeopathic treatment, 7 in the Thames Valley and 8 in Northampton. The project is being carried out as part of an MSc in Research Methodologies at Goldsmiths University.
Team:
Supervision by:
Morag Hiers, Research Fellow, Centre for Reviews and Dissemination, University of York
Professor John Gruzelier, Department of Psychology, Goldsmiths University
Dr Deborah Bowden, Department of Psychology, Goldsmiths University
Principal Investigator:
Funding:
Depression – What is the role of treatment by homeopaths?
This project will evaluate the acceptability and the comparative effectiveness of adjunctive treatment provided by homeopaths for patients with self-reported depression, in addition to usual care. More
Overview:
This project is conceived and led by Petter Viksveen. He will be carrying out this project as part of his PhD studentship at the University of Sheffield, under the supervision of Dr. Clare Relton and Prof. Jon Nicholl. The project began in September 2011.
This project aims to evaluate the acceptability and the comparative clinical and cost effectiveness of adjunctive treatment provided by homeopaths for patients with self-reported depression, in addition to usual care. Multiple methods are proposed for the design and implementation of this research project. The final outcomes of this project will aim to contribute to the knowledge base used to determine the appropriateness of offering homeopathy as an adjunct for patients suffering from depression.
The current plan includes:
A. To review the literature on homeopathy in depression – a systematic
literature review, including a review of patients’ self-reported experiences.
B. To carry out a pragmatic randomised controlled trial to assess homeopathy as an
adjunct to usual care in self-reported depression.
C. To investigate patients’ experience through a qualitative study.
Current status:
Petter Viksveen has been accepted onto the Health and Related Research PhD programme. He is supervised by Dr. Clare Relton and Prof. Jon Nicholl. The project has obtained ethics approval from an NHS Research Ethics Committe. Patients will be recruited from the ongoing NIHR CLAHRC funded South Yorkshire Cohort study.
This project has obtained over 90% of the required funding and is seeking the remaining 8.7% (11k).
Team:
Mr P Viksveen – PHD student (University of Sheffield), MSc Homeopathy (Hons) (University of Central Lancashire), BA pedagogy (University of Oslo), Registered Homeopath MNHL (Norway)
Dr Karen Pilkington (Systematic review) – Senior Research Fellow, School of Life Sciences (University of Westminster)
Philippa Fibert – PhD student (University of Sheffield)
Supervision by:
Dr Clare Relton – Research Fellow, School of Health and Related Research (University of Sheffield), and a Registered Homeopath
Prof Jon Nicholl – Professor of Health Services Research and Dean of the School of Health and Related Research (ScHARR)
Advisor:
Prof Paul Bissell – Professor of Public Health and the Director of the Public Health Section, School of Health and Related Research (University of Sheffield)
Principal Investigator:
Funding:
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) randomised controlled trial
A collaboration between researchers at the Universities of Leeds and Sheffield, and clinicians and patients at Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. More
Overview:
It is often suggested that the improvement patients report from homeopathy is due to the ‘time and attention’ they receive during the consultation with the homeopath. Others believe that the improvement reported by patients is due to the therapeutic effect of the homeopathic medicines. Researchers at the Universities of Leeds and Sheffield are working with clinicians and patients at Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust to address this question.
Current status:
NHS Research Ethics Committee approval and NHS Research Governance approval have been obtained. This study is currently recruiting patients to the observational study from which some patients will be randomly selected to receive usual care plus treatment by a homeopath or usual care plus ‘supportive listening’. The condition chosen for this study is Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) - a common, chronic disorder that affects an estimated 10.5% of the population (Wilson, Roberts et al. 2004). IBS is one of the most common conditions treated by NHS homeopaths (Mathie 2006; Spence et al, 2005) and there is promising clinical research regarding the effectiveness of homeopathic medicines and treatment by homeopaths for this condition (Owen 1990; Rahlfs 1976, Rahlfs 1979, Gray, 1998).
ISRCTN90651143
http://www.controlled-trials.com/ISRCTN90651143/
Team:
Dr K Kapur - Consultant Gastroenterologist, Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Dr E Said - Registrar Gastroenterology
Mrs J Raw - Registered Homeopath
Mrs C Walters - Registered Homeopath
Dr C Relton - Research Fellow, School of Healthcare, University of Sheffield, Registered Homeopath Ms Emily Peckham - PhD student, School of Healthcare, University of Leeds
Professor K Thomas - School of Healthcare, University of Leeds
Dr CM Smith - Research Fellow in Acute Care, Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Miss E Goodwin - Acting Research Fellow, Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Mrs Bowen - Patient Representative
Principal Investigator:
Funding:
Online database of homeopathic scientific literature
The aim of this project is to allow the homeopathic community and the general public to access the scientific evidence relating to homeopathy. More
Overview:
A first version of the database covering articles published up to 1999 has kindly been donated to us. In Phase I we used this data to create a user-friendly database on our website.
Current status:
Phase I was completed in November 2010. Phase II began in April 2011 and involves a close collaboration with the Carstens Foundation in Germany to substantially expand the database. This will bring both a substantial increase in the number of trials presented and an increase in the level of detail of information provided about each trial. The database will also be kept up to date with the latest papers on a continual basis.
Team:
Rainer Lüdtke – Carstens Stiftung, Essen, Germany
Dr Jürgen Clausen – Carstens Stiftung, Essen, Germany
Daniela Hacke – Carstens Stiftung, Essen, Germany
Robert Mathie – British Homeopathic Association, Luton, UK
Principal Investigator:
Funding:
Physico-chemical properties of homeopathic dilutions
This project aims to observe possible physico-chemical differences between succussed and unsuccussed water using a specific class of chromophoric probes (ie: highly sensitive aqueous dyes). More
Overview:
This will be done using a light spectrometer to analyse the changes in emission spectra of the chromophores as a function of the number of succussion, substance diluted and environmental factors.
Current status:
The project is in its early phases, it is showing promising results which are currently being consolidated.
Principal Investigator:
Physics of homeopathic dilutions
At present very little is known of the chemical and physical processes involved in the therapeutic effects of homeopathy. A large number of experiments have been performed over the years, probing these processes using a variety of tools such as spectroscopy or nuclear magnetic resonance. More
Overview:
The aim of the project is to gather the current knowledge coming out of physico-chemical experiments and to start to draw out some of the fundamental physical principles seemingly at play in homeopathic dilutions.
The knowledge gathered will be used to inform further physico-chemical research projects.
Principal Investigator:
Funding:
Theories of homeopathic dilutions
There is at present no recognised physical theory of the mode of action of homeopathic preparations. Two theories have been proposed which both offer serious framework through which to explain and understand homeopathic dilutions. Mo