Study 8

Antidepressant treatment with hypericin

Au: Hoffman-J, Kuehl-E-D

So: Z allg. Med. 55, 776-782(1979)

Introduction

The authors report that hypericin, in addition to its antidepressive properties, also has a good effect on the circulatory system because of an increase of capillary circulation.

Asselhuber et al. have a found a good effect on Enuresis nocturna (bed-wetting).

There are also clinical reports of good effect on psychosomatic symptoms in children and migraine.

Description

60 patients aged 19-73 years (31 men, 29 women) were given 25-30 Hyperforat drops (containing approximately 3 mg hypericin) or a placebo three times a day before meals in a randomized, double-blind study for six weeks.

The trial group had 5 mild, 23 moderate and 4 severe depressions,

The control group 4 mild, 22 moderate and 4 severe depressions.

The symptoms were measured with a scale containing 52 symptoms graded from 0 = no complaints to 3 = serious complaints. The measurements were made in the beginning, after three weeks and after six weeks.

Results

• The mean value of symptoms fell from 1.76 at the start to 1.16 after three weeks and 0.68 after six weeks in the hypericum group.
• The scores in the placebo group were 1.83 at the beginning, 1.63 after three weeks and 1.54 after six weeks.
• The response rate was 34.1% after three weeks and 61.4% after six weeks in the trial group and 10.9% after three weeks and 15.8% after six weeks in the placebo group.
• When measured by 19 of the more "depressive complaints," the response rate was even higher (70%). The response rate was 18.9% in the placebo group with this scale.
• When measured as good/very good response 63% had a good effect in the trial group and 10% on the placebo, while 20% on hypericum and 67% on the placebo were classified as nonresponders.
• There were slightly better results with juvenile and climacteric depressions, than with psychogene, somatogene, and involution depressions.

There were no statistical analyses made.

No side effects reported, either by clinical or laboratory investigations. No drop outs.

Our comments

This study is the oldest we know of and there was no statistical analysis and a scale not widely tested and used in other circumstances. It was also before the age of DSM III and all the modern classifications. We brought it into this summary mostly because it was the first ever performed on hypericum and thus is of historical interest.