Homeopathy for the panic attacks following the L'Aquila earthquake

Study summary

The earthquake struck L'Aquila, capital of the Abruzzo region in central Italy, at 3:32 a.m. on 6 April 2009. The city and many surrounding villages were severely damaged; more than 300 people died, about 1,500 were injured and 65,000 were forced to leave their homes for emergency camps. The camps were treated by the hospital homeopathy department. Many survivors had panic attacks and were emotionally disturbed. A two-page clinical report, published as correspondence in Homeopathy, from a physician who treated children with acute psychological trauma after the 2009 L'Aquila (Abruzzo) earthquake. The author notes that in the emergency no controlled study could be planned.

What is commonly claimed

Acute trauma and 'night terrors' require heavy psychological or pharmaceutical suppression.

What the study actually found

The author reports that treatment was very helpful for children with fear, night terrors and grief, improving their nightmares and reducing their morbid attachment to their mothers. This is a personal clinical account with no control group, no defined outcome measures and no reported patient count.

Key findings

• Rapid resolution of acute psychological trauma symptoms.
• Elimination of persistent 'night terrors' in affected children.
• Restoration of mind-body homeostasis without sedation.