Add on effect of dhūpana with jaṬādi varti in positive symptoms of schizophrenia - a single group clinical trial (ab design)

Introduction: Schizophrenia is one of the most debilitating, complex and chronic psychiatric disorders which disrupt a person’s ability to think, feel and act. It is characterized by delusions, hallucinations, disorganized behaviour, grossly disorganized or catatonic behaviour and negative symptoms. Among this delusions, hallucinations, disorganized behaviour and grossly disorganized or catatonic behaviour can be called as positive symptoms of schizophrenia. Most of the symptoms of schizophrenia found similar to the symptoms of unmāda-a disease explained in Ayurveda classics. So schizophrenia can be correlated with unmāda and its management is being used with efficacy in such cases. A management protocol with ṡodhana (elimination therapy), ṡamana (palliative therapy) followed by rasāyana (rejuvenation therapy) and satvāvajaya, distinct psycho educative approach is being in use for schizophrenia. Dhūpana (fumigation therapy) is one of the techniques mainly used in the management of psychotic conditions along with ṡodhana and ṡamana. Jaṭādi varti dhūpana which is being practicing for the last 10 years has taken as trial drug for its efficacy in the positive symptoms of schizophrenia. Methodology: 28 subjects satisfying the inclusion criteria were selected from OPD of Vaidyaratnam PS Varier Ayurveda College and Government Ayurveda Research Institute for Mental diseases (GARIM), Kottakkal and those who were taking antipsychotics and had no improvements were considered as phase A and observed for 2 weeks and then they were administered jaṭādi varti dhūpana as phase B for 15 minutes twice daily for a period of 7 days. Assessments were done using Scale for Assessment for Positive Symptoms of Schizophrenia (SAPS) and WHO Quality Of Life BREF questionnaire on 0th, 14th, 18th, 21st and 28th day. Results: On assessment, most of the domains were statistically significant at the level of p <.05. The study concluded that administration of jaṭādi varti dhūpana has got significant effect in reducing the positive symptoms of schizophrenia and also in the quality of life.