CLASSICAL HOMEOPATHIC TREATMENT IN ATOPIC -DERMATITIS - PROTOCOL FOR A PROSPECTIVE RANDOMIZED, PLACEBO-CONTROLLED DOUBLE-BLIND-STUDY AT THEDERMATOLOGISCHE-KLINIK-UND-POLIKLINIK OF THE TECHNISCHE-UNIVERSITAT-MUNCHEN

The objective of the study described in this paper is to assess effica cy of classical homeopathic treatment in patients with neurodermatitis . The study follows the nowadays accepted scientific research standard s as well as the needs of classical homeopathy. After a baseline-phase of 4 weeks duration all patients undergo subsequently a anamneses by a homeopathic doctor who tries to select the proper remedy respecting the case and the characteristics of the patient as a whole, following the principles and guidelines of classical homeopathy. After this the patients are randomized in a placebo- and verum-group and stay in the study for 8 months. During this time they are allowed to use indiffere nt external ointments only. The homeopathic doctor is completely free to change remedies, dosages or potencies if required by the reaction o r a new casepicture of the patient. The efficacy of the therapy will b e statistically shown in comparison to the scorepoints of the multipar ameter-neurodermatitis-score, which was assessed in each patient at th e beginning and at the end of the study. Effects of the treatment conc erning the patient's ability to deal with the disease, his quality of life and other health problems besides his skindisease will be describ ed and discussed. The design of this study is published in advance to give reviewers of the study the opportunity to verify if the study com plies with the original plan. This is important because a critical dis cussion of this study is to be expected.