Statistical Appraisal of the Medicines under the Rubric "Sympathetic" in Homeopathic Repertories using Likelihood...

In homeopathic prescribing, emotional and mental traits play a key role in remedy selection. The rubric "sympathetic", commonly found in homeopathic repertories, represents traits such as empathy, sensitivity and compassion. However, its inclusion of particular medicines raises concerns regarding discriminative validity. This study applied a likelihood ratio (LR)-based statistical method to evaluate the strength of association between medicines and the rubric "sympathetic", aiming to enhance scientific reliability and evidence-informed prescribing.An 18-month analytical, longitudinal, epidemiological study was conducted at the outpatient departments of a homeopathic hospital in India. Participants aged ≥12 years with chronic illnesses were included, classified as "sympathetic" based on the validated Modified Trait Sympathy Scale - Homeopathic Perspective (mTSS-HP). Individualized homeopathic treatment was provided in centesimal or LM potencies. Treatment outcome was assessed using the Outcome Related to Impact on Daily Living (ORIDL) scale over a 3-month follow-up. Likelihood ratios (LR(+) and LR(-)) were computed from 2 × 2 contingency tables to quantify associations between medicines and the rubric "sympathetic".A total of 1,372 participants were enrolled; 1,327 (96.7%) completed the study. The cohort was predominantly female (74.2%) and had a mean age of 38.9 ± 13.7 years. Among 78 prescribed medicines, Ignatia amara (LR(+) = 2.0), Carcinosinum (LR(+) = 2.2), Staphysagria macrosperma (LR(+) = 1.9), and Nitricum acidum (LR(+) = 2.6) showed strong positive LRs, suggesting a significant association with the "sympathetic" rubric. Remedies such as Bryonia alba, Nux vomica, Natrum sulphuricum, and Sulphur demonstrated LR(+) <1, indicating weaker associations.LR-based analysis identified a restricted set of medicines with robust statistical association with the rubric "sympathetic", supporting the need for selective refinement of repertorial listings. This approach strengthens the empirical foundation of mental-emotional rubrics and offers a reproducible framework for evidence-informed, individualized homeopathic prescribing.