Clinical Cases

Treating a Family with Psychiatric Disorders that Stem from Opium Addiction of the Father

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A family with psychiatric disorders stemming from opium addiction of the father is treated homeopathically.

Introduction

mindPrevious research has documented high rates of major depression and antisocial personality in opiate addicts (1) . This study was designed to investigate the relationship of dual diagnosis in opiate-addicted probands* to family history of psychiatric disorders and substance use disorders in biological relatives. Psychiatric disorders and substance use disorders were evaluated using direct interview and family history in a sample of 877 first-degree relatives of 201 opiate addicts and 360 relatives of 82 normal controls. Results indicate that (2) compared with relatives of normal subjects, opiate addicts’ relatives had substantially higher rates of alcoholism, drug abuse, depression, and antisocial personality; (3) relatives of depressed opiate-addicted probands had elevated rates of major depression and anxiety disorders but not of other disorders, suggesting the validity of subtyping opiate addicts by the presence or absence of major depression; and (4) in contrast, relatives of antisocial opiate addicts had rates of disorders that were not significantly different from those of relatives of opiate addicts without antisocial personality.

In this study, all three family members of an opiate addicted father underwent homeopathic therapy. There are different therapeutic methods for treating psychiatric patients. Conventional medicine uses both medicinal and non-medicinal methods. The medicines are chemically toxic substances that do not heal patients but control their thoughts and behaviors through various mechanisms like decreasing or increasing the secretion of specific neurotransmitters. They do not enhance one’s own self -healing mechanisms. However, homeopathic remedies when selected properly, enhance these mechanisms and the body and mind get to a balanced state. Thus one experiences a lively inner calmness, better sleep, more energy and depression changes to happiness. The individual becomes hopeful and ambitious.

  • Analysis of the family members’ conditions: 1) Mother of the family: Mrs. B.S. A 67 yr old widow suffering from sadness, auditory delusions, and hyperlipidemia was visited by me on Feb. 14th 2013. She was brought to the clinic by her niece, one of my diabetic patients, Mrs. Z.S. She was extremely introverted and barely answered my questions. So I had to ask Mrs. Z.S. I usually ask my patients to describe their mental, emotional characteristics. She described herself as follows: “I like company, I hate home but I always stay at home. I used to take part in religious sessions even if they were far away. I also did sports.” She continued: “I am afraid of darkness and do not like to be alone. Before using these drugs (she referred to the antipsychotic and neuroleptic medicines like Olanzapine, Citalopram, Clonazepam), I heard voices that ordered me to do definite things.  I asked her, how do you feel about yourself? She answered: “I always feel ashamed and ask God to forgive my sins”. She was discontented with her husband who used to abuse opium and had no sense of responsibility toward his family. The man passed away many years ago and she lives alone with her two sons. Her 2ndson died of a brain tumour at the age of 34 in 2006. She could not weep at all at his funeral and in general she cannot weep at all.

According to the symptoms I prescribed Thuja for her, two separate doses. Over the course of a year I also prescribed: Nat-s. because of the past history of head injury; Lachesis, since she had relevant keynote symptoms at the next follow-up session, like trembling of tongue when protruding it; Apis, because of widow’s jealousy, being warm-blooded, burning of feet that is better after putting them in cold water. After about a year, on Jan. 30th, 2014, I saw her again. This time she arrived at our clinic alone without anybody else. She seemed to have improved remarkably; she looked more confident. Her sleep has improved so that her psychiatrist has discontinued her clonazepam and zolpidem. Burning in her legs had improved completely but she still suffered heaviness in her both legs. She said that she wants her sons to get married soon but she also expects some bad events for them. She hears less voices that command her. She was happy about the betterment of her senior son, saying he was admitted to university recently, and she asked again for his remedy.

She is very neglectful in taking a shower. She also suffers from itching skin eruptions. She was also poor at doing housework, such as cleaning her apartment, regularly, but she could cook for her sons. Her main recent and previous rubrics were repertorized and Sulphur was selected as her proper and her anti-miasmatic remedy. A single dose of its 200c potency was given to her.

Figure 1 Cloud of Sulphur

 

MIND – DELUSIONS – hearing – illusions of

MIND – AILMENTS FROM – grief

MIND – AILMENTS FROM – love; disappointed

MIND – DESPAIR – religious despair of salvation

MIND – FEAR – dark, of

MIND – RELIGIOUS AFFECTIONS – too occupied with religion

MIND – FEAR – alone, of being

MIND – FEAR – poverty, of

MIND – QUARRELSOME

EXTREMITIES – HEAVINESS – Lower limbs

MIND – CRUELTY

MIND – UNFEELING, hardhearted

MIND – HARDHEARTED, inexorable

MIND – AVERSION – husband, to

GENERALS – BATHING – agg.

MOUTH – TREMBLING of tongue – protruding it; when

EXTERNAL THROAT – CLOTHING agg.

MIND – CONFIDENCE – want of self-confidence

SLEEP – SLEEPLESSNESS – night

2) The 2nd patient of the family; Her1st  son, is 44 and has been suffering from schizophrenia for several years. He hates to go to doctors and is very suspicious of any kind of medicine. He is averse to marry and to do any productive work. He has a very weak sense of responsibility and escapes from marriage. He also suffers from dyspepsia; he drinks alcohol with his friends.  Fortunately her other son (i.e. the 3rd one) seems to be rather healthier than the others.

At the 2nd visit she asked me to give her a remedy for the son because he bothered her a lot and always quarrelled with her after coming home. He used to command at home and misbehaved with his mother. I prescribed Lycopodium 30c for him. Mrs.N.S. give it to the son. He started changing his behavior toward his mother after the remedy. A single dose of Lycopodium200ch, was prescribed in the next visit. Frequency of quarreling decreased from daily to 1-2 times a week. He went out to find a job and also started studying. After about 10 months of taking the remedy he had improved very prominently. He found a job, his bad behavior has improved and he has spoken with his mother about marriage with a proper girl. He has also been admitted to a university.

3) The 3rd or junior son is an artist who loves music and who also climbs mountains in the northern part of Tehran weekly. He is also a masseuse at a sport-club. His chief complaint is difficult respiration, especially while climbing mountains. He said:  “About 2006 I found out my brother had cancer and afterwards I couldn’t breathe normally and had difficult respiration. I was referred to a doctor. He told me not to think too much. Spirometry was done showing my respiratory capacity to be 85%. Dr. Shayani diagnosed it to be due to bronchitis. I get severe flatulence that makes me nervous.” He continued: “I am an affectionate person and I should say that I am a healthy man. I have been drinking alcohol for two years. I have found out recently that I am an impressionable person. One day I am very energetic the other day I have no energy. Sometimes when I go up to the mountains I sing and laugh, and on other days I am gloomy. I am mostly happy.”

“My brother is now much better than last year. He used to yowl but he doesn’t yowl anymore. He is said to have schizophrenia, but has improved remarkably with your remedies.”

His tongue trembled while protruding, he was also loquacious and changed the subject repeatedly. He seemed educated and articulate. I prescribed a single globule of Lachesis 30c, putting it on his tongue. After about 2 weeks he called me up and reported 100%  improvement in his breathing. He no longer complained of dyspnea while climbing mountains. He felt happier and more stable than before.

Conclusion: The results of this case report, as an experimental study, reveal the potential and capabilities of the prescribed homeopathic remedies, given to three members of a family whose father was addicted to opium. The homeopathic treatment improved the psychiatric conditions of a family. Some symptoms were totally cured, the other symptoms got better insignificantly. Homeopathic remedies may be considered an effective treatment for family members of opium addicts.

 

*proband /pro•band/ (pro´band) an affected person ascertained independently of relatives in a genetic study.

 

References:

1- Psychiatric Disorders in Relatives of Probands With Opiate Addiction , by Bruce J. Rounsaville, et al. published on the following website: http://archpsyc.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=495192

2- Mathur, K.N., 2005, Systematic MateriaMedica, published by BJain Publishers.

3- Boericke’s new manual of Homeopathic MateriaMedica, 9th edition,2000 by William Boericke

4- Radar Repertory and MateriaMedica version 8.1

About the author

Seyedaghanoor Sadeghi

Seyedaghanoor Sadeghi M.D., Hom.: Graduated from Tehran University of Medical Sciences and Health Services and Iran Homeopathic Learning Center. He is a Certified medical doctor in Iran, and Official member of the Iranian Homeopathy Association, and was granted RIHA certificate and LMHI certificate of membership. He also writes a health page as a journalist in the Tehran Times daily newspaper. Visit his website: http://drsadeghihom.ir/en/

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