Clinical Trial: The Effect of Individualised Homoeopathic Treatment Using the Grant Bentley Method in Premenstrual Syndrome

Study Status: Completed
Recruit Status: Completed
Study Type: Interventional

Official Title: The Effect of Individualised Homoeopathic Treatment Using the Grant Bentley Method in Premenstrual Syndrome

Brief Summary:

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is related to the changes in the levels of hormones predominately progesterone, oestrogen and prolactin, during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle. Both physical and psychological symptoms may occur from at least day 14 of the menstruation cycle and cease by day 4 of menstruation. The symptoms may interfere with a female's daily activities and have a negative impact well-being. There are a number of conventional pharmacological drugs which are used in the treatment or alleviation of the symptoms of PMS, however the drugs may have side effects and may negatively interact with other medications. Research has shown that homoeopathy is beneficial in relieving or decreasing the severity of PMS, however finding the individualised homoeopathic remedy can be difficult. Grant Bentley developed a system that helps find the most suitable remedy for each individual case. The Grant Bentley Method (GBM) uses homoeopathic case taking, photographs of the facial features and repertorisation to determine the dominant miasmatic group of the patient. This aids in the selection of specific homoeopathic remedy. There has been no research to show the effect of the GBM on PMS.

This study aims to determine the effect of individualised homoeopathic treatment using the GBM, on females with PMS by using case studies and a daily self-grading PMS chart.

Detailed Summary:

The study is of an embedded mixed method design using the PMS chart and case studies and will take place over 12 weeks at the University of Johannesburg (UJ) Health Centre. Using purposive sampling, 10 female participants between the ages of 18 to 40 years will be recruited by means of advertisements at the Homoeopathic Health Centre, campus gym and female residences on the Doornfontein campus of the University of Johannesburg, as well as various health shops, practices and gyms in the Auckland Park and Killarney areas, with the relevant permission granted.

Each potential participant will be required to complete a screening questionnaire in order to establish whether they are an appropriate candidate for this study. Once this is confirmed, the researcher will explain the study to each participant. The participants will be required to read the participant information form and sign the consent and medical photograph consent forms. Participants will be informed that their photographs will be used for facial analysis to assist in finding the most accurate remedy and will not be published. Each participant's facial features will be hand-drawn by the researcher in order to aid participant confidentiality.

Each participant will undergo a full homoeopathic consultation which will focus on her PMS symptoms. In addition, 9 photos of their facial features will be taken with a digital camera (Panasonic DMC-FZ5) for classification of their dominant miasmatic group. Thereafter, a physical examination including vital signs and an abdominal and/or breast examination (if indicated) will be conducted.

After the consultation, the participant will be asked to record their daily PMS symptoms, for a period of 1 month, on the PMS chart (provided to them by the researcher) at home. The first month
Sponsor: University of Johannesburg

Current Primary Outcome: PMS symptom severity as measured by the PMS chart [ Time Frame: 12 weeks ]

Original Primary Outcome: Same as current

Current Secondary Outcome: Changes in symptom severity as evaluated by researcher case notes [ Time Frame: Every 4 weeks for 12 weeks ]

Original Secondary Outcome: Changes in symptoms as evaluated by researcher case notes [ Time Frame: Every 4 weeks for 12 weeks ]

Information By: University of Johannesburg

Dates:
Date Received: June 4, 2015
Date Started: September 2014
Date Completion:
Last Updated: May 18, 2016
Last Verified: May 2016