A Case of Paranoid Schizophrenia Treated with Individualised Homoeopathy

Abstract Background  Schizophrenia is a chronic, complex, highly disabling, serious mental disorder characterised by distortions of thinking and perception. Psychotropic medicines used for management are effective but are characterised by severe limitations. Alternate safe and effective treatment regimens are being explored. Homoeopathy is a system of medicine based on individualistic approach with potential relevance to psychiatry. Purpose  The purpose of this case report is to demonstrate the utility of homoeopathy in management of schizophrenia. Client Description  A 37-year-old female patient was brought by her husband to outpatient department of psychiatry. Auditory hallucinations, referential delusions, thought withdrawal and emotional outbursts were reported during the interview. Measures and Outcome  The physician's initial assessment lead to diagnosis of schizophrenia and confirmed as paranoid schizophrenia by the psychiatrist. Clinical Global Impression-Schizophrenia (CGI-SCH) was used to assess the severity of symptoms at baseline and consecutive follow-ups for 18 months. Intervention  The patient was prescribed a single dose of Natrum carbonicum 200C and repeated only once after 8 months, when sleep disturbance demanded repetition. Results  Baseline CGI-SCH scores in domains of severity of illness and degree of change were 29 and 20, respectively, which reduced to 5 (normal) in both domains by 4 months and remained the same for the next 2 years. Implications  This case study reinforces the utility of homoeopathy in schizophrenia and throws light on importance of a thorough case taking of psychiatric patients to elicit totality of symptoms to arrive at the similimum.