A STUDY PROTOCOL TO KNOW THE IMPACT OF INDIVIDUALIZED HOMOEOPATHIC TREATMENT ON SOCIAL QUALITY OF LIFE AND SATISFACTION IN WORKING ADULTS WITH DEPRESSION

Abstract

Objective:

      Depression is considered as a mood disorder in which patient experiences loss of energy and interest, guilt, difficult concentration, loss of appetite and thoughts of death or suicide. Changes in activity level, cognitive abilities, speech and vegetative functions (such as sleep pattern and sexual activity) are the other common symptoms. The interpersonal, social and occupational functioning of the patient also gets impaired.¹Social Quality of Life is the perceived quality of a person's social relationships and support, which influences their physical health and overall well-being. Good social quality of life helps working people manage stress better, build healthy relationships at work, and stay mentally and physically healthy.² Individualized homeopathic treatment using potentised remedies may contribute to significant improvements in the social quality of life in people diagnosed with depression.

Materials and Methods:       

      This is a single-arm clinical trial to recognize the effectiveness of Individualized Homoeopathic Medicine in improving the social quality of life among working population with depression. The quality of life and burnout will be assessed baseline and every 3rd month using Quality of Life Enjoyment and Satisfaction Questionnaire–Short Form[Q_LES_Q(sf)] and Copenhagen burnout inventory (CBI) scale respectively. The severity of depression symptoms will be assessed baseline and every month using Patient health questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) scale. The outcome will be measured by the difference of the score obtained in PHQ-9 scale every month and Q-LES-Q(sf) questionnaire and CBI scale every 3months.These scores shall be compared at the baseline and end of the treatment. Changes in the scales will be assessed using Friedman’s test.

Discussion and conclusion:

      The study shall help in finding out the influences of depression among working population on the social quality of life and also helps to prevent long-term complications. The further research on this topic adopting randomized controlled trial is recommended to refine the efficacy of homoeopathic medicines with strong evidence for improvement in social quality of life in depression among working population.