The personality of homeopaths: a cross-sectional survey of the personality profiles of homeopaths compared to a norm sample. Rise MB, Langvik E, Steinsbekk A. Source 1 Department of Public Health and General Practice, Norwegian University of Science and Technology , Trondheim, Norway . J Altern Complement Med. 2012 Jan;18(1):42-7.

Abstract

Abstract Objectives: The Revised NEO Personality Inventory (NEO-PI-R) was used to describe the personality profiles of homeopaths in Norway. It was hypothesized that the homeopaths would score higher than the norm sample on Openness, Agreeableness, and Conscientiousness.

Design: The NEO-PI-R describes personality scores on five traits; Neuroticism, Extraversion, Openness, Agreeableness, and Conscientiousness. A cross-sectional survey of 128 (39%) members of the Norwegian association for homeopaths was compared with the Norwegian population norm sample.

Results: Compared to the norm population score with a mean of 50, the homeopaths scored significantly higher on the personality traits Openness (54.7) and Agreeableness (58.0). Significant, but small differences were also observed with a higher score on Conscientiousness (52.3) and a lower score on Extraversion (48.3). There were no significant differences on Neuroticism (49.7).

Conclusions: People who work as homeopaths can be described as open to new and different ideas, and as caring, understanding, and altruistic persons. Therefore, there is reason to believe that these dispositions are central in choosing homeopathy as an occupation. Further research should investigate whether personality traits are associated with important occupational areas such as job satisfaction, occupational stability, or income.

Read about more about scientific research on homeopathy

With thanks to the One Click Group Reporting of research: Ghosts in the machine 31.1.12:

By Peter T Wilmshurst, Consultant Cardiologist, Royal Shrewsbury Hospital, Shrewsbury SY3 8XQ 31 January 2012

If I tried to make money by deceiving people that a picture that I had painted was the work of some great artist, the law would call it fraud. Yet when pharmaceutical and medical device companies make money by deceiving doctors and patients that their articles were written by medical opinion leaders we call it ghost writing and gift authorship.[1]

This double standard is because this form of financial “fraud” is so prevalent amongst the most influential opinion leaders in the profession and so many journals and organisations profit from it that we have institutionalised this dishonesty in which everyone profits except perhaps the patients who may get inappropriate treatment and potentially those who pay for it – in the UK that is usually the tax-payer.

Dr Tony Rickards was a great cardiologist. His memory has been sullied because he was unusually both a “ghost” and a gift author on publications about the MIST Trial. He died in May 2004,[2] before the trial started in November 2004. He was not on the trial design committee: I know because I was. Despite satisfying none of the criteria for authorship of the most highly cited cardiology journal, Circulation, he was listed as an author of the paper.[3] One other member of the trial steering committee and I refused to be authors because of errors in the paper and because the sponsor refused to allow us to see all the data.

After persistent pressure from me Circulation eventually published a correction (700 words), data supplement (4 pages) and new version of the paper.[4-6] Before the correction was published the editors of Circulation knew that Dr Rickards had died and did not meet the criteria for authorship. They did not remove his name from the corrected version of the paper. Because Dr Rickards was dead, the sponsors could dispense with the customary payment to eminent gift authors.

Circulation published in 2009 a letter responding to correspondence about the MIST paper in which Dr Rickards had moved up to be the fourth author (from fifteenth author on the paper), even though the editors of Circulation knew that he had died 5 years earlier.[7] Dr Rickards was named as an author of a letter he had no part in writing, which responded to correspondence he had not read, about a paper he had not seen or written, which describing research in which he had not participated. If editors ignore their rules on authorship why should anyone else obey the rules?

References
1. Hendrick R. Ghosts in the machine. BMJ 2011;343:d7860.
2. Caroline Richmond. Obituary: Anthony Francis Rickards. BMJ 2004;329:234.
3. Dowson A, Mullen MJ, Peatfield R, Muir K, Khan AA, Wells C, Lipscombe SL, Rees T, De Giovanni JV, Morrison WL, Hildick-Smith D, Elrington G, Hillis WS, Malik IS, Rickards A. Migraine intervention with STARFlex Technology (MIST) Trial: a prospective, multicenter, double-blind, sham- controlled trial to evaluate the effectiveness of patent foramen ovale closure with STARFlex septal repair implant to resolve refractory migraine headache. Circulation 2008;117:1397-1404.
4. http://circ.ahajournals.org/cgi/content/full/circulationaha;120/9/e71
5. http://circ.ahajournals.org/cgi/content/full/CIRCULATIONAHA.107.727271/DC1
6. http://circ.ahajournals.org/cgi/content/full/117/11/1397
7. Dowson A, Mullen MJ, Khan AA, Rickards A, Peatfield R, Muir K, et al. Response to letter regarding article “Migraine Interventions with STARFlex Technology (MIST) Trial”. Circulation 2009;119:e194.

Competing interests: Peter T Wilmshurst says: My involvement is described in the letter. I have no financial conflicts.

With thanks to the One Click Group 30.1.12 ‘Scientific research emperor is marching around buck naked. The British Medical Journal’:

See Research misconduct The emperor is marching around buck naked. BMJ 2012; 344 doi: 10.1136/bmj.e541 (Published 24 January 2012) Cite this as: BMJ 2012;344:e541.

The validity and quality of research underpin the entire research enterprise worldwide. However, a number of studies have shown that many researchers take “shortcuts” and that perhaps 1-3% of research is grossly false, fitting into the category of research misconduct.

Research misconduct has been defined in US federal law as fabrication, plagiarism and/or falsification. Identified cases have been few, often limited to easy-to-identify falsified figures in published papers.

However, these may be the tip of the iceberg:

Godlee’s report of widespread research misconduct is disturbing and, I believe, generalises to the US.1 2 It’s not just the fact that it is happening, but that it reflects a culture within which new researchers are socialised. Previous research indicates the motivators for dishonesty include a high pressure achievement oriented environment, where “if everybody else is doing it, it must be OK.”3

The problem also underscores how important are reanalysis and replication of reported research, a recent topic on the US Institutional Review Board Forum (www.irbforum.org/forum/). But, get this, “Ginny Barbour, a senior editor with the PLoS group of journals, said one third of authors could not find the original data to back up figures in scientific papers when these were questioned.” I wonder how many journal editors seek to discover and reject such authors. I wonder how meticulous the US Food and Drug Administration is in policing the input it receives in support of marketing approval for new drugs and medical devices.

These behaviours are beyond the reach of surveillance by institutional review boards and research ethics boards, and they indicate the need for a new end product quality control system.4 The simplifying assumptions about the efficacy of peer review and professional ethics and responsibility fail miserably when the emperor is discovered marching around buck naked.

References

1. Godlee F. Research misconduct is widespread and harms patients [Editor’s Choice]. BMJ2012;344:e14. (5 January.)

   FREE Full Text
2. Martinson BC, Anderson MS, deVries R. Scientists behaving badly. Nature435;2005:737-8.
3. Vedantam S. Cheating is an awful thing for other people to do. Washington Post2006. www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/20/AR2006082000501.html.
4. Noble JH Jr. Peer review: quality control of applied social research. Science1974;185:916-21.

   FREE Full Text

See http://avilian.co.uk/2011/10/retractions-in-the-medical-literature-how-many-patients-are-put-at-risk-by-flawed-research/

See A key player in stoking this Swine Flu hysteria was Dr Iain Stephenson, a Consultant at University Hospital of Leicester NHS Trust who has been found guilty of vaccine research fraud on a grand scale by the General Medical Council (GMC).

See Thirteen per cent of scientists or doctors have said they know of colleagues who have fabricated data in order to get research published. More than one in ten (13%) scientists or doctors have witnessed colleagues intentionally altering or fabricating data to get published or during their research, a poll suggests. The survey of almost 2,800 experts in the UK also found 6% knew of possible research misconduct at their institution that has not been properly investigated. The poll, for the British Medical Journal (BMJ), is being presented at a meeting aimed at tackling research misconduct in the UK. 13 January 2012

See Mental scores decline precipitously at 30 months after anthrax vaccine, but CDC spins study to say vaccine safe Thursday, January 12, 2012

See Research misconduct is widespread and harms patients, BMJ 2012; 344 doi: 10.1136/bmj.e14 (Published 5 January 2012), Cite this as: BMJ 2012;344:e14

See ‘…it is simply no longer possible to believe much of the clinical research that is published…‘

See The Whole Truth? Meta-Analysis of Reboxetine Trials Calls Into Question Veracity of All Industry-Sponsored Research

See Lies, Damned Lies, and Medical Science

See Science for Sale: Protect Yourself From Medical Research Deception

See British Medical Journal – now only 11% of NHS Treatments Backed by Evidence (was 13%)

See Big Pharma researcher admits to faking dozens of research studies

See CAM deaths 0 Iatrogenic deaths 999,936 annually

See Big Pharma Bias at Harvard Medical School

See Andrew Wakefield demands retraction from BMJ after documents prove innocence from allegations of vaccine autism data fraud

See Reporting of Conflicts of Interest in Meta-analyses of Trials of Pharmacological Treatments. Michelle Roseman, BA; Katherine Milette, BSc; Lisa A. Bero, PhD; James C. Coyne, PhD; Joel Lexchin, MD; Erick H. Turner, MD; Brett D. Thombs, PhD. JAMA. 2011;305(10):1008-1017. doi: 10.1001/jama.2011.257

Contribution of world health organization in the global acceptance of Ayurveda. Chaudhary A, Singh N. Department of Rasa Shastra, Faculty of Ayurveda, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India. J Ayurveda Integr Med. 2011 Oct;2(4):179-86.

Abstract

Amongst the mandates of United Nations, health of mankind is the thrust area of UN through World Health Organization (WHO). Planning and execution of policies for mainstreaming of traditional medicines (TRM) of respective countries along with conventional system of medicine (allopathy), first in the country of origin followed by the international arena, is the priority agenda of operations of WHO.

Within Indian context, WHO accorded prime focus to Ayurveda in its activities related to TRM.Sponsorship and encouragement of studies substantiating parameters of standardization, safety and efficacy of herbal medicines of Ayurveda are under chief consideration of WHO. In this review, several guidelines of WHO are summarized.

Department of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy (AYUSH), Central Council of Research in Ayurveda and Siddha and numerous other collaborative centers of WHO in India are assigned with several Appraisal Project Work (APW) and Direct Financial Cooperation (DFC) projects that will strengthen Ayurveda as evidence-based medicine for its global acceptance. Implementation of pharmacovigilance program in Ayurveda, publication of documents for rational use and initiatives to prepare consumer guidelines for appropriate use of Ayurvedic medicines are some other contributions of WHO toward advancement of Ayurveda at national as well as global level.

Here, we suggest further exploration, interaction and interpretation of traditional knowledge in the light of contemporary core sciences and biomedical sciences that can pave the way for accreditation of Ayurveda worldwide as an established system of medicine.

Read about more about scientific research on homeopathy

Lymphocyte proliferation stimulated by activated Cebus apella macrophages treated with a complex homeopathic immune response modifiers. Coelho Moreira CO, de Fátima Ferreira Borges da Costa J, Leal MF, Ferreira de Andrade E, Rezende AP, Imbeloni AA, Pereira Carneiro Muniz JA, de Arruda Cardoso Smith M, Burbano RR, de Assumpção PP. Laboratório de Citogenética Humana, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, PA, Brazil; Serviço de Cirurgia, Hospital Universitário João de Barros Barreto, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, PA 66073-000, Brazil. Homeopathy. 2012 Jan;101(1):74-9.

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Canova is a complex homeopathic medicine that enhances a specific immunologic responses against several exogenous and endogenous conditions. Canova activates macrophages both in vivo and in vitro.

AIM AND METHOD: We evaluated the effects of macrophages activated by Canova in vivo and ex vitro in the proliferation of lymphocytes. Canova was used to activate Cebus apella macrophages in vivo or ex vitro with Canova. Lymphocytes were cultured with the macrophage culture medium. The analysis of Canova effects in cultured lymphocytes was performed according to the cell cycle phase using flow cytometry. The Interferon gamma and Interleukin-5 cytokines quantification in these lymphocyte culture media was performed by Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

RESULTS: We observed that Canova actives macrophages in vivo and ex vitro. The lymphocytes cultured in a supplemented medium with macrophages activated by Canova treatment presented a higher number of proliferation cells than lymphocytes not exposed to macrophages activated by Canova. The Interferon gamma and Interleukin-5 cytokines were only observed in the medium of lymphocytes exposed to macrophages activated by Canova. Thus, Canova has potential as a new adjuvant therapy.

Read about more about scientific research on homeopathy

Development of broiler chickens after treatment with thymulin 5cH: a zoo technical approach. Sato C, Listar VG, Bonamin LV. Centro de Pesquisa, Universidade Paulista, Rua Dr Bacelar, 1212. 4° andar, 04026-002 São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. Homeopathy. 2012 Jan;101(1):68-73.

Abstract

Modulation of immune response due to thymulin 5cH has been previously observed. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the development of broiler chickens treated with thymulin 5cH by conventional zoo technical indices, phytohemaglutinin induced inflammation test and histomorphometric analysis of lymphoid organs (thymus, Fabricius bursa and spleen). Animals were divided in two groups: (a) test: birds with free access to thymulin 5cH diluted into the drink water and (b) control: birds with free access to water only, from the 1st to the 42nd day of life. All experimental procedures were done in blind. The results show that thymulin 5cH treated group had increased productivity index compared to control (391.45 versus 261.93) associated with higher viability in the 7th week (p = 0.013), and a possible shunt to B lymphocyte activity. The data suggest that thymulin 5cH could be a viable method to improve productivity in poultry production due to its immune modulation properties.

Read about more about scientific research on homeopathy

Effects of Ignatia amara in mouse behavioural models. Marzotto M, Conforti A, Magnani P, Zanolin ME, Bellavite P. Department of Pathology and Diagnostics, University of Verona (I), Italy. Homeopathy. 2012 Jan;101(1):57-67.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Ignatia amara (Ignatia), a remedy made from the Strychnos ignatii seeds, is used for anxiety-related symptoms, but consistent evidence of its activity in reproducible experimental models is lacking. An investigation was performed in order to assess on mice, by means of emotional response models, the activity of homeopathic Ignatia dilutions/dynamizations.

METHODS: Groups of 8 mice of the CD1 albino strain were treated intraperitoneally for 9 days with 0.3ml of five centesimal (C) dilutions/dynamizations of Ignatia (4C, 5C, 7C, 9C and 30C). Control mice were treated with the same hydroalcoholic (0.3%) solution used to dilute the medicines. Diazepam (1mg/kg) was the positive reference drug. Validated test models for locomotion and emotional response, the Open-Field (OF) and the Light-Dark (LD) tests, were employed. Five replications of the same protocol were carried out, in a randomised way using coded drugs/controls.

RESULTS: In the OF the general locomotion of mice was slightly decreased by Ignatia 4C, but not by Ignatia 5C, 7C, 9C and 30C, indicating the absence of unspecific motor impairment or sedation by these dilutions/dynamizations. Ignatia and diazepam seemed to decrease the number of urine spots released in the OF during 10min, with borderline significance (P=0.083). In the LD the tested medicine showed anxiolytic-like activity (increase of time spent and distance travelled in the lit area), though to a lesser extent than diazepam. The highest and most significant difference with untreated controls (P<0.01) was observed with the 9C dilution/dynamization. Among the 5 replication experiments, the best drug effects were obtained where the baseline anxiety of mice was higher.

CONCLUSIONS: Homeopathic Ignatia dilutions/dynamizations (peak at 9C) modify some emotion-related symptoms in laboratory mice without affecting locomotion.

Read about more about scientific research on homeopathy

Running an NHS community homeopathy clinic – 10-year anniversary 2001-2011. Bawden S. The Cornwall Road Medical Practice, 3 Frederick Treves House, St John Way, Dorchester, Dorset DT1 2FD, UK. Homeopathy. 2012 Jan;101(1):51-6.

Abstract

An outcome series was conducted over a five-year period of patients attending a community NHS homeopathy clinic in Dorchester, Dorset. 273 new patients were seen. 183 (67%) questionnaires were completed at six months after initial consultation. 44% of patients had been unwell for more than five years; 19% of all patients for more than 15 years. A wide variety of conditions were seen, the largest group with depression, anxiety or grief. For follow-up patients 75-81% indicated an improvement in their symptoms and activity while 58% recorded an improvement in their overall wellbeing. Six months after the initiation of treatment 155 (84.7%) felt an improvement in their condition with 148 (81%) attributing this to homeopathy. Nobody reported deterioration due to homeopathic treatment; conventional drug use was reduced in 46 patients (25%).

Read about more about scientific research on homeopathy

The impact of the medical speciality in primary health-care problem solving in Belo Horizonte, Brazil: homeopaths versus family doctors: a preliminary quantitative study. Iannotti G, Melo EM. Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba (UNC), Argentina; Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade José do Rosário Vellano (Unifenas), Belo Horizonte, Brazil; Instituto Mineiro de Homeopatia, Serviço Phýsis de Homeopatia, Belo Horizonte, Brazil; Facoltà di Giurisprudenza, Università degli studi di Macerata, Italy; Super Liga Chaves de Medicina. Homeopathy. 2012 Jan;101(1):44-50.

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: This research project examined influence of the doctors’ speciality on primary health care (PHC) problem solving in Belo Horizonte (BH) Brazil, comparing homeopathic with family health doctors (FH), from the management’s and the patients’ viewpoint. In BH, both FH and homeopathic doctors work in PHC. The index of resolvability (IR) is used to compare resolution of problems by doctors.

METHODS: The present research compared IR, using official data from the Secretariat of Health and test requests made by the doctors and 482 structured interviews with patients. A total of 217,963 consultations by 14 homeopaths and 67 FH doctors between 1 July 2006 and 30 June 2007 were analysed.

RESULTS: The results show significant differences greater problem resolution by homeopaths compared to FH doctors.

CONCLUSION: In BH, the medical speciality, homeopathy or FH, has an impact on problem solving, both from the managers’ and the patients’ point of view. Homeopaths request fewer tests and have better IR compared with FH doctors. Specialisation in homeopathy is an independent positive factor in problem solving at PHC level in BH, Brazil.

Read about more about scientific research on homeopathy

Homeopathic medicines substantially reduce the need for clotting factor concentrates in haemophilia patients: results of a blinded placebo controlled cross over trial. Kundu T, Shaikh A, Kutty A, Nalvade A, Kulkarni S, Kulkarni R, Ghosh K. Haemophilia Care Centre:Nashik Chapter, Niramay Nursing Home, Adwait Colony, Canada Corner, Sharanpur Road, Nashik 422-005, India. Homeopathy. 2012 Jan;101(1):38-43.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Modern management of haemophilia patients is expensive: 90% of expenditure is on clotting factor concentrates. Any intervention which reduces the need for clotting factor concentrates in these patients without compromising the quality of life is of interest.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effectiveness of individualised homeopathic medicines in reducing the requirement of factor concentrates in haemophilia patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: In a single blind placebo controlled cross over trial 28 consecutive persons with haemophilia (PWH) with severe (24) or moderately severe (4) disease received standard management with placebo homeopathy for 1 year and active homeopathic treatment in the subsequent year with the same conventional management. There was no wash out period. They received standard managements for any acute emergency during the study period. Development of inhibitor during the study period was a withdrawal criterion. Sample size for the trial was calculated as 24 PWH. Transfusion requirements, bleeding scores, pain scores were evaluated blind by independent experts. Homeopathic medicines were selected by experienced homeopathic physicians depending on clinical condition of the patient. Chi-squared and paired t tests were used in statistical analysis.

RESULTS: 28 patients were recruited. Homeopathic medicines improved frequency of bleeding, extent of bleeding, blood products consumed and pain scores (P<0.0001). There was also significant improvement in well being. Plasma levels of clotting factors did not change. No patients developed inhibitors during the study there were no dropouts.

CONCLUSION: Individualised homeopathic medicines may have an important supportive role in the management of PWH, where blood products and factor concentrates are not easily available. Larger, perhaps multicentric trials are warranted.

Read about more about scientific research on homeopathy