Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Antidepressant Drugs: Overview01:25

Antidepressant Drugs: Overview

Antidepressant drugs are a class of medications primarily used for treating various mood disorders, including major depression, anxiety disorders, and other related conditions. These medicines work by modulating the neurotransmitter balance within the brain, alleviating depressive symptoms. Antidepressants can be broadly categorized into several groups according to their mechanism of action and chemical structure: Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs), Serotonin-Norepinephrine...
Depression: Overview01:18

Depression: Overview

Depression is a prevalent mental illness marked by persistent sadness and lack of interest in previously enjoyable activities. It can take several forms, including major depression, persistent depressive disorder, and bipolar I and II disorders. Symptoms range from emotional changes like chronic worry to physical changes like sleep disturbances and suicidal thoughts. From a neurobiological perspective, depression is believed to be triggered by abnormalities in the brain's prefrontal cortex,...
Antidepressant Drugs: MAOIs and Other Agents01:23

Antidepressant Drugs: MAOIs and Other Agents

Atypical antidepressants, including bupropion (Wellbutrin), mirtazapine (Remeron), nefazodone (Serzone), trazodone (Desyrel), and vilazodone (Viibryd), offer unique mechanisms of action. Bupropion weakly inhibits dopamine and norepinephrine reuptake, aiding depression treatment and smoking cessation, with a low risk of sexual dysfunction. Mirtazapine enhances serotonin and norepinephrine neurotransmission, leading to sedation, increased appetite, and weight gain. As a result, it helps treat...
Antidepressant Drugs: Tricyclics, SSRIs, and SNRIs01:28

Antidepressant Drugs: Tricyclics, SSRIs, and SNRIs

Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCAs), including Desipramine (Norpramin), Imipramine (Tofranil), Clomipramine (Anafranil), and Amitriptyline (Elavil), inhibit serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake and also block other receptors. They are used for depression, pain conditions, and insomnia. Common adverse effects include anticholinergic effects, sedation, orthostatic hypotension, and weight gain. They have a narrow therapeutic window and so require plasma-level monitoring. Abrupt discontinuation can...
Depressive Disorders: MDD and Dysthymia01:27

Depressive Disorders: MDD and Dysthymia

Depressive disorders are a group of mental health conditions characterized by pervasive feelings of sadness, diminished pleasure in life, and a significant impact on daily functioning. These conditions are most prevalent in individuals during their 30s and affect women at twice the rate of men. Contrary to popular belief, younger individuals are generally more susceptible to these disorders than older adults. Two key types of depressive disorders include Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and...
Long-term Depression01:03

Long-term Depression

Long-term depression, or LTD, is one of the ways by which synaptic plasticity—changes in the strength of chemical synapses—can occur in the brain. LTD is the process of synaptic weakening that occurs over time between pre and postsynaptic neuronal connections. The synaptic weakening of LTD works in opposition to synaptic strengthening by long-term potentiation (LTP) and together are the main mechanisms that underlie learning and memory.
Calcium Ion Concentration Mechanism
If over time, all...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Symptom burden, care pathways and treatment experiences of healthcare workers with post-COVID-19 syndrome (SCOPE-CARE): a mixed-methods study protocol.

BMJ open·2026
Same author

Existential distress in advanced cancer: study protocol of a pragmatic randomized controlled trial of a short-term psychodynamic therapy (ORPHYS) compared to usual psycho-oncological treatment (TAU).

Trials·2026
Same author

Development and Implementation of an Inpatient Mortality Review: a Feasibility Study.

Journal of patient safety·2026
Same author

Coping, depressive and anxiety symptoms over three and a half years of the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-lagged panel network analysis.

Journal of affective disorders·2026
Same author

The screening accuracy of the PROMIS® Anxiety measures in adults - A systematic review and multiple-thresholds meta-analysis.

Journal of psychosomatic research·2026
Same author

Mental Health Professionals' Attitudes Towards the Network Theory of Mental Disorders.

Clinical psychology in Europe·2026
Same journal

Interventions to prevent or cease electronic cigarette use in children and adolescents.

The Cochrane database of systematic reviews·2026
Same journal

Drugs to improve anaemia, quality of life, and physical function in people with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS).

The Cochrane database of systematic reviews·2026
Same journal

Interventions for smoking cessation in inpatient psychiatry settings.

The Cochrane database of systematic reviews·2026
Same journal

Mechanical thromboprophylaxis for preventing intradialytic hypotension in people undergoing maintenance haemodialysis.

The Cochrane database of systematic reviews·2026
Same journal

Prognostic models for predicting intensive care unit admission or mortality in critically ill adults not yet been admitted to the intensive care unit.

The Cochrane database of systematic reviews·2026
Same journal

Views and experiences of weight management for people living with mobility‑limiting conditions, intellectual disabilities or severe mental illness: a qualitative evidence synthesis.

The Cochrane database of systematic reviews·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 29, 2026

Vagus Nerve Stimulation As an Adjunctive Neurostimulation Tool in Treatment-resistant Depression
04:29

Vagus Nerve Stimulation As an Adjunctive Neurostimulation Tool in Treatment-resistant Depression

Published on: January 7, 2019

St John's wort for major depression.

Klaus Linde1, Michael M Berner, Levente Kriston

  • 1Centre for Complementary Medicine Research, Department of Internal Medicine II, Technische Universitaet Muenchen, Wolfgangstr. 8, Munich, Germany, 81667.

The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews
|October 10, 2008
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum) extracts are more effective than placebo for major depression. These herbal remedies are as effective as standard antidepressants but have fewer adverse effects.

More Related Videos

Evaluating the Anti-depression Effect of Xiaoyaosan on Chronically-stressed Mice
06:08

Evaluating the Anti-depression Effect of Xiaoyaosan on Chronically-stressed Mice

Published on: January 7, 2019

Network Pharmacology and Validation of the Antidepressant Mechanisms of Qiangzhifang in a Chronic Restraint Stress-induced Depression Rat Model
08:15

Network Pharmacology and Validation of the Antidepressant Mechanisms of Qiangzhifang in a Chronic Restraint Stress-induced Depression Rat Model

Published on: June 6, 2025

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 29, 2026

Vagus Nerve Stimulation As an Adjunctive Neurostimulation Tool in Treatment-resistant Depression
04:29

Vagus Nerve Stimulation As an Adjunctive Neurostimulation Tool in Treatment-resistant Depression

Published on: January 7, 2019

Evaluating the Anti-depression Effect of Xiaoyaosan on Chronically-stressed Mice
06:08

Evaluating the Anti-depression Effect of Xiaoyaosan on Chronically-stressed Mice

Published on: January 7, 2019

Network Pharmacology and Validation of the Antidepressant Mechanisms of Qiangzhifang in a Chronic Restraint Stress-induced Depression Rat Model
08:15

Network Pharmacology and Validation of the Antidepressant Mechanisms of Qiangzhifang in a Chronic Restraint Stress-induced Depression Rat Model

Published on: June 6, 2025

Area of Science:

  • Phytomedicine
  • Psychiatry
  • Clinical Pharmacology

Background:

  • Hypericum perforatum L. (St. John's wort) extracts are widely used for depressive symptoms in some countries.
  • Major depression is a significant global health concern requiring effective and safe treatment options.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the efficacy of Hypericum perforatum extracts against placebo and standard antidepressants for major depression.
  • To assess the safety profile of Hypericum perforatum extracts compared to conventional antidepressant drugs.

Main Methods:

  • Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized, double-blind, controlled trials.
  • Inclusion criteria: major depression diagnosis, comparison with placebo or standard antidepressants, assessment of depressive symptoms and adverse effects.
  • Data extraction by independent reviewers; outcome measures included responder rates and dropout rates due to adverse effects.

Main Results:

  • Hypericum extracts demonstrated superiority over placebo in treating major depression, with higher responder rates.
  • Efficacy was comparable to standard antidepressants, including tricyclic antidepressants and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).
  • Hypericum extracts were associated with significantly fewer adverse effects leading to trial discontinuation compared to older antidepressants and SSRIs.

Conclusions:

  • Hypericum perforatum extracts are a viable treatment option for major depression, showing efficacy similar to standard antidepressants.
  • The herbal treatment offers a favorable safety profile with reduced adverse effects compared to conventional pharmacotherapies.
  • Geographical origin of trials and study precision influenced effect sizes, warranting careful interpretation.