ANTIDEPRESSANT-LIKE EFFECT OF HYPERICUM-PERFORATUM (ST JOHNS WORT) ONTHE SLEEP POLYSOMNOGRAM

We studied the effect of two doses (0.9 mg and 1.8 mg) of Hypericum pe rforatum (St John's wort) on the sleep polysomnogram of healthy subjec ts using a placebo-controlled, cross-over design. Both doses of hyperi cum significantly increased the latency to rapid eye movement (REM) sl eep without producing any other effect on sleep architecture. Our data are consistent with the proposed clinical antidepressant efficacy of hypericum, and raise the possibility that its pharmacological mechanis m of action may be similar to that of conventional antidepressant medi cation.