The use of hypericum St. Johns wort in depression in general practice: An audit of 34 cases

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The use of hypericum (St. Johns wort) in
depression in general practice An audit of 34
cases

• Tessa Manoim, John Yaphe, Gila Wolbromsky
• Department of Family Medicine, Hadassah Hebrew
  University Medical School, Jerusalem,
• Department of Family Medicine, Rabin Medical
  Centre, and Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv
  University

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Background

• Hypericum (St. Johns Wort) has been used
  historically as a herbal remedy for depression.
• Recent clinical trials have demonstrated its
  effectiveness in modern clinical practice.

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Objective

• To audit the use of hypericum in the treatment
  of depression in an urban family practice in
  Israel.

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Methods

• The medical records of 34 patients treated with
  hypericum for anxiety and depression in an urban
  family practice were reviewed.
• Patients were contacted by telephone and
  interviewed using the Hamilton anxiety and
  depression scale to assess the effect of
  treatment.

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Results

• 34 patients
• mean age 40 years
• 67 female
• treated with hypericum for up to 28 weeks
• Improvement in 88 of patients
• no adverse effects seen
• greatest improvement noted in the depression,
  anxiety, guilt, and insomnia scores.

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Conclusions

• This audit found benefit from treatment with
  hypericum in a small, unselected general practice
  population.
• Given the potential benefits and low toxicity of
  hypericum, it seems reasonable to suggest further
  research in primary care comparing hypericum to
  accepted treatment for anxiety and depression in
  properly conducted randomised placebo-controlled
  trials.