Homeopathic Treatment for Depression in Peri- and Postmenopausal Women (HOMDEP-MENOP)

September 30, 2014 updated by: Emma del Carmen Macías-Cortés, MD, PhD, Hospital Juarez de Mexico

Efficacy of Individualized Homeopathic Treatment for Moderate to Severe Depression in Peri- and Postmenopausal Women: a Randomized Placebo-controlled, Double-blind, Double-dummy, Study Protocol

The aim of this study was to determine whether individualized homeopathic treatment and fluoxetine are more efficient than placebo for moderate to severe depression in peri- and postmenopausal women.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Perimenopausal period is characterized by an increased risk of depressive symptoms. Major depression is one of the most disabling medical conditions worldwide. At present, it is becoming more difficult to prove that antidepressants actually work better than placebo in clinical trials.Use of homeopathy to treat depression is widespread, but there is a lack of clinical trails about its efficacy in depression in peri- and postmenopausal women. Previous trials suggest that individualized homeopathic treatments improve depression in general population. The purpose of this study was to determine whether individualized homeopathic treatment and fluoxetine are more efficient than placebo for moderate depression in peri- and postmenopausal women.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

133

Phase

  • Phase 2

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • Mexico
      • Mexico City, Mexico, 07760
        • Hospital Juarez de Mexico

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

40 years to 65 years (ADULT, OLDER_ADULT)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

Female

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Major depression according to DSM-IV
  • Moderate to severe depression according to 17-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (14-24 score)
  • No current use of homeopathic treatment for depression or antidepressants or anxiolytic drugs 3 months prior to study entry
  • Not be currently taking psychotherapy for at least 3 months before study entry
  • Early transition to menopause defined by a change in cycle length of 7 days or longer in either direction from the participant´s own baseline for at least 2 cycles
  • Late transition to menopause defined as 3 to 11 months of amenorrhea
  • Postmenopausal stage defined by 12 months or more of amenorrhea
  • Capability and willingness to give informed consent and to comply with the study procedures

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Pregnancy or breastfeeding
  • Other psychiatric disorders different from moderate to severe depression (severe depression, schizophrenia, psychotic disorders, bipolar affective disorders, suicide attempt)
  • Alcohol or other substance abuse
  • Known allergy to fluoxetine
  • Cancer or hepatic diseases

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: TREATMENT
  • Allocation: RANDOMIZED
  • Interventional Model: PARALLEL
  • Masking: QUADRUPLE

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
EXPERIMENTAL: Individualized homeopathic treatment
Selection of the individualized homeopathic remedy based on Hahnemann´s methodology after the case history of each patient.
Drug: Individualized homeopathic treatment
A single dose of the individualized homeopathic remedy in C-potency was dissolved in a 60 ml bottle of 30% alcohol-distilled water:15 drops PO two times per day following agitation plus fluoxetine-dummy loaded PO daily during 6 weeks. The homeopathic remedy could be changed at every follow-up (week 4) according to patient´s symptoms.
Other Names:
  • Homeopathic remedies
  • Homeopathic medicines
EXPERIMENTAL: Fluoxetine
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor.
Drug: Fluoxetine
20 mg per day PO during 6 weeks plus individualized homeopathic dummy-loaded (60 bottle of 30% alcohol-distilled water: 15 drops PO two times per day following agitation). The individualized homeopathic dummy-loaded was repeated at week 4.
Other Names:
  • Prozac
PLACEBO_COMPARATOR: Placebo
Fluoxetine placebo plus individualized homeopathic placebo
Drug: Placebo
Fluoxetine placebo (capsules containing sucrose microgranules) PO daily during 6 weeks plus individualized homeopathic placebo (60 ml bottle of 30% alcohol-distilled water: 15 drops PO two times per day following agitation). The individualized homeopathic placebo was repeated at week 4.
Other Names:
  • Fluoxetine placebo
  • Individualized homeopathic placebo

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change From Baseline in 17-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression at 6 Weeks.
Time Frame: Baseline and 6 weeks
17-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD) is a well-known standardized scale used worldwide to assess severity of depression. Score ranges from 0 (no depression) up to 52 (maximum depression severity). A total score in HRSD was assessed at baseline and after six weeks of treatment. For this study the change was calculated as the later time point (total score in 17- HRSD at 6 weeks) minus the earlier time point (total score at baseline). A score < or = 7 is considered normal, 7 - 13 (mild depression), 14 - 24 (moderate to severe depression), > 24 (severe depression).
Baseline and 6 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change From Baseline in Beck Depression Inventory at 6 Weeks.
Time Frame: Baseline and 6 weeks
Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) is a 21-question multiple-choice self-report inventory that assess severity of depression. A total score range was assessed at baseline and after six weeks of treatment. A score 0 (without depression) up to 63 (most severe depression). For this study the change was calculated as the later time point (total score in BDI at 6 weeks) minus the earlier time point (total score in BDI at baseline). A score 0 - 8 is considered normal, 9 - 18 (mild to moderate depression), 19 - 28 (moderate to severe depression), > 29 (severe depression).
Baseline and 6 weeks
Responder Rates at 6 Weeks.
Time Frame: 6 weeks
17-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression is a well-known standardized scale used worldwide to assess severity of depression. Score ranges from 0 (no depression) up to 52 (maximum depression severity). A total score in 17-item Hamilton Scale for Depression was assessed for this study. It ranges from 0 (no depression) up to 52 (most severe depression). A score < or = 7 is considered normal, 7 - 13 (mild depression), 14 - 24 (moderate to severe depression), > 24 (severe depression). Responder rate definition: a decrease of 50% or more from baseline score using 17-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression after six weeks treatment.
6 weeks
Change From Baseline in Greene´s Scale at 6 Weeks.
Time Frame: Baseline and 6 weeks
Greene Climacteric Scale (GS) is intended to be a standard measure of core climacteric symptoms. For this study a total range was assessed at baseline and after six weeks of treatment. A total score 0 (without climacteric symptoms) up to 63 (most severe climacteric symptoms). The change was calculated as the later time point (total score in GS at 6 weeks) minus the earlier time point (total score at baseline).The scale measures four separate sub-scales (anxiety, depression, somatic symptoms and sexual function). The score of the four sub-scales was summed. A total score of 0 -10 is considered without symptoms, 11 - 29 (mild symptoms), 30 - 49 (moderate symptoms) and > 50 (severe symptoms).
Baseline and 6 weeks
Remission Rates at 6 Weeks
Time Frame: 6 weeks
17-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression is a well-known standardized scale used worldwide to assess severity of depression. Score ranges from 0 (no depression) up to 52 (maximum depression severity). A total score in 17-item Hamilton Scale for Depression was assessed for this study. It ranges from 0 (no depression) up to 52 (most severe depression). A score < or = 7 is considered normal, 7 - 13 (mild depression), 14 - 24 (moderate to severe depression), > 24 (severe depression). Remission rate definition: 17-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression score < 7 points after 6 weeks of treatment.
6 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Hospital Juarez de Mexico

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Emma del Carmen Macías-Cortés, MD, PhD, Hospital Juarez de Mexico

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start

March 1, 2012

Primary Completion (ACTUAL)

February 1, 2014

Study Completion (ACTUAL)

March 1, 2014

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

June 30, 2012

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

July 3, 2012

First Posted (ESTIMATE)

July 9, 2012

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (ESTIMATE)

October 9, 2014

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

September 30, 2014

Last Verified

September 1, 2014

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • HJM2030/12-A

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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