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Hypericum in seasonal affective disorder (SAD)
1Feighner Research Institute, Charter Chelsea Clinic, London, UK.
Insights
Hypericum (Kira) significantly improved symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) in a postal survey. Both Hypericum alone and with light therapy showed effectiveness, with combined therapy enhancing sleep quality.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Pharmacology
- Light Therapy
Background:
- Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a mood disorder characterized by depressive symptoms related to seasonal changes.
- Treatment options for SAD include psychotherapy, light therapy, and pharmacotherapy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of Hypericum (Kira) as a treatment for SAD.
- To compare the effectiveness of Hypericum alone versus Hypericum combined with light therapy for SAD symptoms.
Main Methods:
- A postal survey was conducted with volunteers from the SAD Association.
- Participants completed an 11-item rating scale before and after an eight-week treatment period.
- Two groups were analyzed: one receiving Hypericum (Kira) alone, and another receiving Hypericum plus light therapy.
Main Results:
- Both treatment groups showed a statistically significant reduction in SAD symptoms (p < 0.001).
- Improvements were noted in anxiety, loss of libido, and insomnia for both groups.
- The combination of Hypericum and light therapy demonstrated a significantly greater improvement in sleep quality compared to Hypericum alone (p < 0.01).
Conclusions:
- Hypericum (Kira) appears to be an effective treatment for Seasonal Affective Disorder.
- Combining Hypericum with light therapy may offer additional benefits, particularly for sleep disturbances in SAD patients.
Abstract:
Volunteers from the membership of the SAD Association took part in a postal survey, before and after eight weeks' treatment with Hypericum (Kira), using an 11-item rating scale. The maximum score is 44 and the mean score in 168 patients using Kira alone was 21.3. This fell to 13 at endpoint (p < 0.001). The corresponding figures for 133 patients using Kira + light therapy were 20.6 and 11.8, respectively (p < 0.001). In both groups, there was significant improvement in anxiety, loss of libido and insomnia. There were no significant between-group differences on any measure except that improvement in sleep was greater in the Kira + light group (p < 0.01). On the results of this survey, Hypericum would appear to be an effective treatment for SAD.