当前位置： SCI文献检索 > BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine期刊下所有文献 > Homeopathy for mental fatigue: lessons from a randomized, triple blind, placebo-controlled cross-over clinical trial.

Homeopathy for mental fatigue: lessons from a randomized, triple blind, placebo-controlled cross-over clinical trial.

Abstract：

BACKGROUND:Difficulty in controlling attention can lead to mental fatigue in the healthy population. We identified one trial reporting a benefit in patients' attention using a homeopathic formula preparation. One component of the preparation was potassium phosphate, widely available off the shelf as Kali phos 6x for cognitive problems. The aim of this exploratory trial was to assess the effectiveness of Kali phos 6x for attention problems associated with mental fatigue. METHODS:We recruited student and staff volunteers (University of York) with self-reported mental fatigue, excluding any using homeopathy or prescribed stimulants, or with a diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome. In a triple blind, cross-over, placebo-controlled clinical trial, 86 volunteers were randomized to receive Kali phos 6x or identical placebo 10 minutes before taking a psychological test of attention (Stroop Colour-Word Test). One week later they were crossed over and took the other preparation before repeating the test. RESULTS:We found no evidence of a treatment effect in a comparison of Kali phos 6x with placebo (Kali phos minus placebo = -1.1 (95% CI -3.0 to 0.9, P = 0.3) Stroop score units, Cohen effect size = -0.17) even when allowing for a weak period effect with accuracy scores in the second period being higher than those in the first (P = 0.05). We observed a ceiling effect in the Stroop test which undermined our ability to interpret this result. CONCLUSIONS:Kali phos 6x was not found to be effective in reducing mental fatigue. A ceiling effect in our primary outcome measure meant that we could not rule out a type II error. Thorough piloting of an adequate outcome measure could have led to an unequivocal result. CURRENT CONTROLLED TRIALS: ISRCTN16521161.

journal_name

BMC Complement Altern Med

journal_title

BMC complementary and alternative medicine

authors

Dean ME,Karsandas R,Bland JM,Gooch D,MacPherson H

doi

10.1186/1472-6882-12-167

subject

Has Abstract

pub_date

2012-10-01 00:00:00

pages

167

issn

1472-6882

pii

1472-6882-12-167

journal_volume

pub_type

杂志文章,随机对照试验

在线工具

Homeopathy for mental fatigue: lessons from a randomized, triple blind, placebo-controlled cross-over clinical trial.