EFFECTIVENESS AND TOLERANCE OF THE HYPERI CUM PREPARATION LI-160 COMPARED TO MAPROTILINE - MULTICENTER DOUBLE-BLIND-STUDY WITH 102 DEPRESSIVE PATIENTS

A randomized double blind study examining the effectiveness and tolera nce of a standardized hypericum preparation when compared to Maprotili ne was performed in a group of 102 patients with depression, in accord ance with ICD-10, F 32.1. The study was conducted in the offices of ne urology and psychiatry specialists. The patients received, over a peri od of four weeks, either 3 x 300 mg of the hypericum extract or 3 x 25 mg Maprotiline pills of identical appearance. The evaluation of the e ffectiveness was performed using the Hamilton Depressions-Scale (HAMD) , the depressions scale according to von Zerssen (D-Si and the Clinica l Global impressions Scale (CGI). The total score of the HAMD-Scale dr opped during the four weeks' therapy in both treatment groups by about 50 %. The mean values of the D-S-Scale and the CGI-Scale showed simil ar results and after four weeks of therapy no significant differences in either treatment group were noticed. The onset of the effects ocurr ed up to the second week of treatment, but could be observed earlier w ith Maprotiline rather than the hypericum extract. On the other hand t he Maprotiline treatment resulted in more cases oi tiredness, mouth dr yness and heart complaints.