Homeopathic medical practice for anxiety and depression in primary care: the EPI3 cohort study.

Background: The purpose of the study was to compare utilization of conventional psychotropic drugs among patients seeking care for anxiety and depression disorders (ADDs) from general practitioners (GPs) who strictly prescribe conventional medicines (GP-CM), regularly prescribe homeopathy in a mixed practice (GP-Mx), or are certified homeopathic GPs (GP-Ho).

Methods: This was one of three epidemiological cohort studies (EPI3) on general practice in France, which included GPs and their patients consulting for ADDs (scoring 9 or more in the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, HADS). Information on all medication utilization was obtained by a standardised telephone interview at inclusion, 1, 3 and 12 months.

Utilization of psychotropic drugs by patients consulting for sleeping disorders in homeopathic and conventional primary care settings: the EPI3 cohort study.

Background: Utilization of sedative hypnotic drugs for sleeping disorders (SD) raises concerns, particularly among older people. This study compared utilization of conventional psychotropic drugs for SD among patients seeking care from general practitioners (GPs) who strictly prescribe conventional medications (GP-CM), regularly prescribe homeopathy in a mixed practice (GP-Mx), or are certified homeopathic GPs (GP-Ho).

Methods: This was a French population-based cohort study of GPs and their patients consulting for SD, informed through the Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) questionnaire.

Management of upper respiratory tract infections by different medical practices, including homeopathy, and consumption of antibiotics in primary care: the EPI3 cohort study in France 2007-2008.

Background: Prescribing of antibiotics for upper respiratory tract infections (URTI) varies substantially in primary care.

Objectives: To describe and compare antibiotic and antipyretic/anti-inflammatory drugs use, URTI symptoms' resolution and occurrence of potentially-associated infections in patients seeking care from general practitioners (GPs) who exclusively prescribe conventional medications (GP-CM), regularly prescribe homeopathy within a mixed practice (GP-Mx), or are certified homeopathic GPs (GP-Ho).

Method: The EPI3 survey was a nationwide population-based study of a representative sample of 825 GPs and their patients in France (2007-2008).

Characteristics of patients consulting their regular primary care physician according to their prescribing preferences for homeopathy and complementary medicine.

Background: Homeopathic care has not been well documented in terms of its impact on patients' utilization of drugs or other complementary and alternative medicines (CAM). The objective of this study was to describe and compare patients who visit physicians in general practice (GPs) who prescribe only conventional medicines (GP-CM), regularly prescribe homeopathy within a mixed practice (GP-Mx), or are certified homeopathic GPs (GP-Ho).

Material And Methods: The EPI3-LASER study was a nationwide observational survey of a representative sample of GPs and their patients from across France.

Familial and genetic aspects of spondyloarthropathy.

Predisposition to SpA is largely determined by genetic factors including HLA-B27 and other as yet unknown genes that might be tracked by a positional cloning approach. Analysis performed on a large cohort of SpA multiplex families revealed that the different articular and extra-articular inflammatory manifestations comprising the SpA spectrum were linked together, implying that they were determined by a shared set of factors, including HLA-B27. The variety of phenotypes appeared to be related to ubiquitous and secondary factors.