Interview with the NCCAM Director - T1 connection file
Study Shows St. John's Wort Ineffective for Major Depression of Moderate Severity
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(Jackson Open):
An extract of the herb St. John's wort was no more effective for
treating major depression of moderate severity than placebo, according
to the results of a new study. In this particular study, which was
funded by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative
Medicine, the National Institute of Mental Health, and
the Office of Dietary Supplements, participants were randomly
assigned to one of three study arms--St. John's wort, a placebo,
or an antidepressant medication called sertraline. Dr. Stephen
Straus, director of the National Center for Complementary
and Alternative Medicine, says an analysis showed that the percentage
of patients that improved was about the same in each arm. However,
the degree of improvement between the three arms varied somewhat.
(Straus):
"Patients who received St. John's wort showed no greater
proportion of improvement or degree of improvement than patients
on the placebo pills. Among the patients who are on the standard
antidepressant—sertraline—about the same percentage of them
improved as on the placebo, but the extent of improvement was slightly
greater. By some of the measures the investigators used sertraline
proved superior to placebo. By some of the other study measures
sertraline recipients did not do better than placebo recipients."
(Jackson
Close):
While it is not known what role St. John's wort should play in the
management of depression, these results indicate that St. John's
wort is not effective in treating major depression of moderate severity.
Dr. Straus says plans are underway to conduct a study of the efficacy
and safety of St. John's wort for the treatment of minor depression.
He adds, people who are suffering from depression should consult
with expert clinicians to be sure that their type of depression
and the severity of depression is accurately diagnosed and that
they receive the best treatment. This is Calvin Jackson,
the National Institutes of Health,
Bethesda, Maryland.