Effectiveness of individualized homoeopathic medicines in reducing relapse risk in patients with alcohol use disorder -a quasi experimental study

Study aims to assess the effectiveness of individualized homeopathic medicines in reducing relapse risk among individuals with Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD). Employing a quasi-experimental study, the research will be conducted at the IPD, OPD and camp on National Homoeopathy Research Institute in Mental Health, Kottayam, Kerala. Participants, aged 19 to 65 years and diagnosed with AUD as per DSM-5 criteria, will be selected based on a Severity of Alcohol Dependence Questionnaire (SADQ) score above 16. Exclusion criteria include individuals undergoing psychotherapy, non-pathological drinkers, those in withdrawal, those taking medication for other medical conditions, those with serious life-threatening medical conditions, and pregnant or lactating women. The study utilizes the SADQ and Alcohol Relapse Risk Scale (ARRS) to measure alcohol dependence severity and relapse risk at baseline and every three months for 12 months. A minimum of 38 participants will be enrolled, accounting for a 15% dropout rate. Participants will be screened using a verbal questionnaire based on DSM-5 criteria. Individualized homeopathic medicine will be selected based on standard homeopathic guidelines. The primary objective is to determine if individualized homeopathic medicine reduces relapse risk, while secondary objectives include identifying common relapse causes and determining groups of homeopathic medicines are more effective. The study hypothesizes that there will be a significant difference in relapse risk before and after using individualized homeopathic medicines.