A Scoping Review of the Literature on Usefulness of Homoeopathy in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

Abstract

Background: Emotional and behavioural disorders are very common in childhood and adolescence. Homoeopathy is an alternative system of medicine which has a potential role in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (CAP).

Objectives: To identify, summarize and disseminate research findings that could assess the role of Homoeopathy in CAP.

Materials and Methods: Two electronic databases PubMed and Google scholar are searched for publications on childhood behavioural disorders in peer-reviewed, indexed journals. Articles published on Homoeopathy and CAP in the past two decades i.e from 2000 to 2020 are included. An explicit systematic search strategy included web-based key word searches. The collected information has been collated, summarized, and the results are presented in tables and charts according to key themes.

Results: The research studies varied widely in all aspects such as design, conduct, intervention and outcome reporting. 38 eligible studies are identified on different clinical conditions in CAP. Individual sources of data are critically appraised and findings are discussed in terms of implications for gaps in research.

Conclusions: There is limited yet convincing evidence for usefulness of Homoeopathy in CAP disorders such as Autism and ADHD. Our review emphasises the paucity of studies in other CAP disorders such as Intellectual disability, Learning disability, Conduct disorder, Childhood depression and Anxiety disorders etc. which is the domain of future research.