Survey study, 2018
Can a questionnaire predict which homeopathic medicine helps PMS?
Yes, a questionnaire with a computer algorithm reliably ranked 11 homeopathic medicines for PMS based on a woman's specific symptoms, though this does not prove the medicines actually work.
What they did
Cross-sectional study validating a questionnaire with 140 symptom descriptions. Researchers used an electronic algorithm to match symptoms in 145 women with PMS or PMDD to one of 11 homeopathic medicines. They calculated how well specific symptoms predicted which medicine would match each woman's profile.
What they found
34 symptoms had strong predictive value for specific medicines. For example, having a cold in the nose before menstruation strongly predicted Magnesium carbonicum (likelihood ratio 7.47). When researchers scored the same women twice, the algorithm rankings correlated highly (0.69 to 0.84), showing the tool was consistent.
What it means for you
The questionnaire reliably matches symptoms to homeopathic medicines, but this is about prediction only, not proof that homeopathic medicines work. This study does not show whether women actually improved with these medicines.
34
Symptoms with strong predictive value
7.47
Likelihood ratio for cold symptom
0.69-0.84
Algorithm reliability correlation range
About the study
- Original title
- Evaluation of a Prognostic Homeopathic Questionnaire for Women with Premenstrual Disorders
- Authors
- Klein-Laansma CT, Rutten ALB, Jansen JPCH et al.
- Journal
- Complementary medicine research
- Year
- 2018
- Study design
- Survey study
- Participants
- 145
- What was tested
- Homeopathic questionnaire and algorithm
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1159/000487318
Topics
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