Efficacy of Individualized Homoeopathic Medicines in Alcohol Addiction: A Retrospective Observational Study Using AUDIT Scores

Abstract

Background: Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) is a chronic relapsing condition associated with substantial morbidity and mortality. Despite standard pharmacological and psychosocial therapies, high relapse rates persist. Homoeopathy, with its individualized and holistic approach, is increasingly used in clinical practice; however, evidence from systematically documented studies remains limited. Retrospective designs may be subject to biases; therefore, clarifying confounding variables and acknowledging limitations is essential. Thus, a study was done to evaluate the association between individualized homeopathic treatment and changes in AUD severity using the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) over 12 months. Methods: This retrospective observational study included 40 adult patients with AUD treated between January 2021 and December 2023. Records with complete 6- and 12-month follow-up were included; incomplete data were reviewed using Intention-to-Treat (ITT) principles. Confounding factors such as concurrent counselling, family support, occupational stress, and lifestyle changes were documented. AUDIT scores were compared using paired t-tests, effect size (Cohen’s d), and 95% confidence intervals. Remedies, potencies, and frequencies were recorded to improve reproducibility. Results: Thirty-six of 40 patients completed follow-up (attrition 10%). A comprehensive analysis revealed a decrease in AUDIT scores from 27.1 ± 4.5 at baseline to 17.3 ± 3.9 at 6 months and 11.2 ± 3.2 at 12 months (p < 0.001). Cohen’s d indicated a large effect size (d = 2.6). ITT analysis using last-observation-carried-forward showed similar directional improvement. No major adverse effects were reported. Conclusion: The findings suggest an association between individualized homoeopathic treatment and reduced AUDIT scores over 12 months.