The efficacy of homoeopathic potassium phosphate for mental fatigue

ISRCTN	ISRCTN16521161
DOI	https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN16521161
Protocol serial number	N/A
Sponsor	University of York (UK)
Funder	Department of Health (UK) - National Coordinating Centre for Research Capacity Development, Post-Doctoral Fellowship in Complementary Medicine

Prospectively registered

Protocol

Statistical analysis plan

Results

Individual participant data

Plain English summary of protocol

Not provided at time of registration

Dr Michael Emmans Dean
Scientific

Department of Health Sciences
University of York
Seebohm Rowntree Building
University Road
York
YO10 5DD
United Kingdom

Primary study design	Interventional
Study design	Randomised placebo-controlled cross-over trial
Secondary study design	Randomised controlled trial
Study type	Participant information sheet
Scientific title	A randomised placebo-controlled trial of homoeopathic potassium phosphate 6x for mental fatigue
Study objectives	That a homeopathic specific used in the treatment of attentional problems will improve performance on an attention test.
Ethics approval(s)	Health Services Research Governance Committee (HSRGC) of the University of York approved on the 13th March 2007. As this trial did not involve any patients, it did not have to go through the National Health Service ethics system.
Health condition(s) or problem(s) studied	Mental fatigue
Intervention	Intervention: a single homeopathic dose of 0.6 g lactose powder, medicated with Kali-phos 6x (in 90% ethanol/water solution) Control: identical placebo consisting of 0.6 g lactose powder, treated with unmedicated 90% ethanol/water solution Treatment consisted of a single dose, crossed over at the same time on the same day one week later. There was no follow-up.
Intervention type	Drug
Phase	Not Applicable
Drug / device / biological / vaccine name(s)	Potassium phosphate
Primary outcome measure(s)	Accuracy on the Stroop-colour-word test of executive function, measured 10 minutes after medication (at the same time on the same day one week apart).
Key secondary outcome measure(s)	No secondary outcome measures
Completion date	01/09/2007

Participant type(s)	Patient
Age group	Adult
Sex	All
Target sample size at registration	86
Key inclusion criteria	1. Healthy staff and student volunteers, aged 19 to 62 years, either sex 2. Recruited from within the University of York 3. Reporting fatigue from mental work
Key exclusion criteria	1. Current use of homeopathy for any condition 2. Current prescribed stimulant medication 3. Use of self-prescribed stimulants (e.g. caffeine-based products) during the study 4. Chronic fatigue 5. Unable to communicate in English
Date of first enrolment	01/06/2007
Date of final enrolment	01/09/2007

Department of Health Sciences

York
YO10 5DD
United Kingdom

Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share	No
IPD sharing plan summary	Not provided at time of registration
IPD sharing plan

Output type	Details	Date created	Date added	Peer reviewed?	Patient-facing?
Results article	results	01/10/2012		Yes	No
Participant information sheet	Participant information sheet	11/11/2025	11/11/2025	No	Yes