Effects of individualized homoeopathic medicaments in Psoriasis: A single blind, simple randomized, placebo controlled study

Abstract

Psoriasis is a non-contagious, chronic skin condition that produces plaques of thickened, scaling skin. It is considered as an incurable, long-term (chronic) inflammatory skin condition. Psoriasis is estimated to affect 2–4% of the population of the western world. Commonly appears for the first time between the ages of 15 and 25 years. In India the prevalence varies from 0.44 to 2.8%.Specific medical signs used for diagnosis are Auspitz's sign, Koebner phenomenon, Candle grease sign with itching, pain localized to papules and plaques. As it was understood to be a chronic, intractable & incurable disease, hence it was felt imperative to carry out a systematic constitutional treatment to validate the observations of earlier Homoeopaths and the subtle homoeopathic philosophy.Research Objectives: Primary objectives were to observe the change in disease severity and change in quality of life of the people. Secondary objective was to ascertain the effect on frequency of relapse and recurrence interval.Methodology: The study was simple randomized and single blind method. The sample size was fixed at 90.Test group 60 i.e. Group – I(Centesimal -30), Group – II(50 Millesimal -30) & Group – III( Control) 30. Duration of study was for two years. It was carried out at International Study & Research Centre on Homoeopathy, Bhubaneswar. There were inclusion & exclusion criteria, treatment plan, follow up with Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI), Psoriasis Disability Index (PDI), Relapse and Recurrence Interval (RRI).Results: Were documented on following points. Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI)/Psoriasis Disability Index (PDI)/ Relapse & Recurrence Interval (RRI). Statistical Analysis: By Kruskul Wallis Test, H0 was rejected. In paired ‘t’ test for PASI, Group – I and II results (P