Comparison of Hypericum Extract WS^® 5570 and Paroxetine in Ongoing Treatment after Recovery from an Episode of Moderate to Severe Depression: Results from a Randomized Multicenter Study

Abstract

This study showed that WS 5570 and paroxetine were similarly effective in preventing relapse in a continuation treatment after recovery from an episode of moderate to severe depression and point therefore to an important alternative treatment option for long-term relapse-prevention.

Nutraceuticals in Psychiatric Practice

“…Fava et al in 2005 [14], proved Hypericum perforatum to be somewhat superior to fluoxetine, but not to placebo. In contrast, a number of European trials (more then 30, regardless of their scientific validity) have found the remedy to be significantly more effective then placebo in patients with mild to moderate depression [15], or to prevent relapse [16]. These European studies, as a bulk, have been criticized for a number of methodological problems (unclear inclusion and exclusion criteria, inadequate dosing of comparison agents and so on).…”

Contact dermatitis as an adverse reaction to some topically used European herbal medicinal products – Part 2: Echinacea purpurea–Lavandula angustifolia

“…Photosensitivity was also not observed in a prospective randomized study of patients taking H. perforatum extract at doses used for the treatment of depressive disorders . However, photosensitivity/skin reddening/erythroderma/itching has very occasionally been reported in patients taking St John's wort extracts medicinally .…”

Standardized Remission Criteria in Schizophrenia: Descriptive Validity and Comparability with Previously Used Outcome Measures

“…The recently proposed criteria for remission in schizophrenia are based on the defi nition of a consensus group [3] . There are marked differences to the conceptualization of remission criteria in depression, which are based on specifi c thresholds of psychometric scales like the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D) [4,32,36] . The selection of certain items in order to defi ne symptom remission without a clear psychometric basis is not equivalent to criteria that are based on psychopathological symptom scores.…”