Treatment of mild/moderate depressions with Hypericum

105 out-patients with neurotic depressions or depressive irritations of short duration were treated in a double-blind study either with 3 × 300 mg Hypericum extract or placebo. The therapy phase was four weeks. The effectiveness was judged according to the Hamilton Depression Scale after two and four weeks. The values of the mean basic score fell in these periods in the active group from 15.81 to 9.64 and 7.17 and in the placebo group from 15.83 to 12.28 and 11.30. The difference between active and placebo groups were statistically significant with p < 0.05 and p < 0.01 achieved after 2 and 4 weeks respectively. In the active group 28 of 42 patients (67 %) and, in the placebo group, 13 of 47 patients (28 %) could be defined as responding to treatment. Notable side effects were not found.