MULTICENTER DOUBLE-BLIND-STUDY EXAMINING THE ANTIDEPRESSANT EFFECTIVENESS OF THE HYPERICUM EXTRACT LI-160

72 depressive patients of 11 physicians' practices were treated in a d ouble blind study for a period of six weeks either with hypericum extr act LI 160 or with placebo. Inclusion criterium was a major depression in accordance with DSM-III-R. The changes were controlled using four psychometric scales (HAMD, D-S, BEB, CGI). The statistic evaluation re vealed, after four weeks of therapy, in ali four psychometric tests, a significant improvement in the active group as compared to the placeb o group. After switching the placebo group to active treatment (5th-6t h week of therapy), significant improvements were found in the origina l placebo group. No serious side effects were observed.