Homeopathy & ADHD
Systematic review and meta-analysis find clinically relevant and statistically robust treatment effect for ADHD patients receiving additional homeopathic treatment.
Around 5% of children are diagnosed with attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).(1) The current pharmacologic treatment model favours the dopamine agonist methylphenidate which has low acceptability and compliance in patients and their families(2) likely due to its poor risk benefit ratio(3) and critical lack of long-term beneficial effect.(4,5)
Systematic review and meta-analysis find clinically relevant and statistically robust treatment effect for ADHD patients receiving additional homeopathic treatment.(6)
Randomized Controlled Trials on individualized homeopathy in ADHD found:
Treatment by homeopaths and nutritional therapists may offer new opportunities to improve ADHD outcomes.(7)
Improvements in criminality, and anger, sustained, increasing improvements and high treatment acceptability in thirty children with ADHD having a concomitant diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder.(8)
Better outcomes in the homoeopathy group for oppositional, cognition problems, hyperactivity and ADHD index scores.(9)
Statistically and clinically significant improvements in many outcome measures in both verum and placebo groups suggested to researchers that future studies be carried out over a longer time period and include a control group which does not undergo homeopathic consultation.(10)
Improved cognitive performance such as visual global perception, impulsivity and divided attention, suggest evidence for homeopathy in the treatment of ADHD, particularly in the areas of behavioural and cognitive functions.(11)
A University of Toronto homeopathy and ADHD trial (registered with the US National Institutes of Health) led by the Faculty of Pharmacy dean was criticized in 2015 by a group of ninety scientists and doctors concerned that “the mounting of such a study by a highly reputable researcher at a top notch university will be used by homeopaths to justify diverse aspects of their practice, including steering patients away from evidence-based treatments.” (12)
Officially titled A Randomized, Double Blind, Placebo Controlled Study of Homeopathic Treatment of Children and Youth With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, this clinical trial registers 151 participants and expects to conclude in February 2023.(13)
Sarah Penrose BSc(hons)Hom can be contacted at goodhealthforgreatlife.com
References
1 Sayal et al., 2018. ADHD in children and young people: prevalence, care pathways, and service provision. Lancet Psychiatry 5, 175–186. Available from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2215036617301670
2 Efron et al., 2020. Patterns of long-term adhd medication use in Australian children. Arch. Dis. Child. 105, 593–597. Available from https://adc.bmj.com/content/105/6/593.abstract
3 Storebø et al., 2018. Methylphenidate for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children and adolescents - assessment of adverse events in non-randomised studies. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. May 9;5(5):CD012069. Available from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29744873/
4 Jensen et al., 2007. 3-year follow-up of the NIMH MTA study. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. Aug;46(8):989-1002. Available from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17667478/
5 Jensen et al., 2001. Findings from the NIMH Multimodal Treatment Study of ADHD (MTA): implications and applications for primary care providers. J Dev Behav Pediatr. Feb;22(1):60-73. Available from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11265923/
6 Gaertner, Teut, Walach, 2022. Is homeopathy effective for attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder? A meta-analysis. Pediatr Res. Jun 14. Available from https://www.nature.com/articles/s41390-022-02127-3
7 Fibert et al., 2016. A comparative consecutive case series of 20 children with a diagnosis of ADHD receiving homeopathic treatment, compared with 10 children receiving usual care. Homeopathy. May;105(2):194-201. Available from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27211327/
8 Fibert et al., 2019. Rethinking ADHD intervention trials: feasibility testing of two treatments and a methodology. Eur J Pediatr. Jul;178(7):983-993. Available from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6565660/
9 Oberai, P. et al. 2013. Homoeopathic management of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: a randomised placebo-controlled pilot trial. Indian J. Res. Homoeopathy 7, 158–167. Available from https://www.ijrh.org/article.asp?issn=0974-7168;year=2013;volume=7;issue=4;spage=158;epage=167;aulast=Oberai
10 Jacobs et al., 2005. Homeopathy for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: a pilot randomized-controlled trial. J Altern Complement Med. Oct;11(5):799-806. Available from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16296913/
11 Frei et al., 2005. Homeopathic treatment of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: a randomised, double blind, placebo controlled crossover trial. Eur J Pediatr. Dec;164(12):758-67. Available from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16047154/
12 Dyer, 2015. University of Toronto is criticised for study of homeopathy in ADHD. BMJ. Mar 5;350:h1234. Available from https://www.bmj.com/content/350/bmj.h1234.full
13 ClinicalTrials.gov, 2022. NIH US National Library of Medicine. A Placebo Controlled Study of Homeopathic Treatment of Children and Youth With ADHD. Available from https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02086864