Placebo effect sizes in homeopathic compared to conventional drugs - a systematic review of randomised controlled trials

Homeopathy : the Journal of the Faculty of Homeopathy
Tobias NuhnMax Geraedts

Abstract

It has been hypothesised that randomised, placebo-controlled clinical trials (RCTs) of classical (individualised) homeopathy often fail because placebo effects are substantially higher than in conventional medicine. To compare placebo effects in clinical trials on homeopathy to placebo effects on trials of conventional medicines. We performed a systematic literature analysis on placebo-controlled double-blind RCTs on classical homeopathy. Each trial was matched to three placebo-controlled double-blind RCTs from conventional medicine (mainly pharmacological interventions) involving the same diagnosis. Matching criteria included severity of complaints, choice of outcome parameter, and treatment duration. Outcome was measured as the percentage change of symptom scores from baseline to end of treatment in the placebo group. 35 RCTs on classical homeopathy were identified. 10 were excluded because no relevant data could be extracted, or less than three matching conventional trials could be located. In 13 matched sets the placebo effect in the homeopathic trials was larger than the average placebo effect of the conventional trials, in 12 matched sets it was lower (P=0.39). Additionally, no subgroup analysis yielded any significant di...Continue Reading

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Citations

Jun 11, 2014·Systematic Reviews·Kushal BanerjeeJeremy Howick
Jul 26, 2011·Homeopathy : the Journal of the Faculty of Homeopathy·A L B Rutten
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Apr 7, 2015·Atencion primaria·Alberto Sacristán Rubio, José Ignacio Torres Jiménez
Jul 31, 2016·Homeopathy : the Journal of the Faculty of Homeopathy·Marcus Zulian TeixeiraEdmund Chada Baracat
Dec 21, 2018·Journal of Bioethical Inquiry·Arianne Shahvisi

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