Dementia treated with individualized homoeopathy: A case report

Abstract

Introduction: Dementia is a devastating neurodegenerative disorder that places a significant physical, emotional, and financial burden on patients, their caregivers and society. The global burden of dementia is growing alarmingly greater in the past few decades. There is an evidence base for the effectiveness of homeopathic medicines in certain psychiatric disorders, but literature is scarce on the usefulness of homoeopathy in dementia. Case Summary: A 72-year-old female patient was brought to the psychiatry outpatient unit with symptoms such as sleeplessness, irrelevant talking, irritability, weakness of memory, lack of personal hygiene, and wandering away from home. The case was diagnosed as unspecified dementia, assessed with mini-mental state examination (MMSE), and treated with Ignatia 200. MMSE score of 10 (severe cognitive impairment) at baseline gradually improved to 24 (no cognitive impairment) within 6 months and was maintained up to 12 months. Clinical improvement was also observed in cognitive functions, behaviour as well as the general condition of the patient. Causal attribution to changes after homeopathic intervention is evaluated through Modified Naranjo Criteria for homoeopathy.