ST-JOHNS-WORT FOR DEPRESSIVE-DISORDERS - RESULTS OF AN OUTPATIENT STUDY WITH THE HYPERICUM PREPARATION HYP-811

The efficacy and tolerability of a high-dose formulation of St. John's Wort extract, HYP 811, was tested in 607 patients in a 6-week, prospe ctive, multicenter, postmarketing surveillance study. Severity of depr ession was assessed by physicians using the Hamilton Depression Scale; patient self-evaluation was performed using the von Zerssen Depressio n Scale. After 6 weeks of treat ment, both scores improved by approxim ately 60%, on average. Disturbances in well-being, such as dejection, loss of interest, and generalized physical complaints, diminished duri ng therapy. The tolerability of HYP 811 was rated ''very good'' and '' good'' in 89.4% of cases. After 3 weeks of treatment, dosage in 128 pa tients (21.1%) was successfully reduced to one capsule daily.