title: Efficacy of Hypericum extract WS(®) 5570 compared with paroxetine in patients with a moderate major depressive episode - a subgroup analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  efficacy and tolerability of WS(®) 5570 for the treatment of acute mild-to-moderate depression, has been demonstrated in various studies. Here, we present a subgroup analysis of a double blind, randomised trial to compare the therapeutic efficacy of WS(®) 5570 with paroxetine in patients suffering from a major depressive episode with moderate symptom intensity.
  
  
  METHODS
  moderate depression was defined by a baseline Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D) total score between 22 and 25. Patients received, after a single blind placebo run-in phase of 3-7 d, either 3 × 300 mg/d WS(®) 5570 or 20 mg/d paroxetine for six weeks. The change of the HAM-D total score was used to describe the efficacy of WS(®) 5570 compared with paroxetine in the subgroup of patients with moderate depression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  the reductions of the HAM-D total score were significantly more pronounced in patients treated with 3 × 300 mg/d WS(®) 5570 compared to 20 mg/d paroxetine.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  patients treated with WS(®) 5570 not only showed a reduction in depression severity score but also yielded greater response and remission rates compared with patients treated with paroxetine. Keypoints Various studies showed the efficacy and tolerability of WS(®) 5570 for the treatment of acute mild-to-moderate depression. Beneficial effects of WS(®) 5570 have been also shown in patients with moderate-to-severe depression. In this study reductions of the HAM-D total score were significantly more pronounced in patients with moderate depression treated with WS(®) 5570 compared with paroxetine. Patients treated with WS(®) 5570 not only showed a reduction in depression severity score but also yielded greater response and remission rates compared with patients treated with paroxetine.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, and Psychosomatics , Psychiatric Hospital, University of Zurich , Zurich , Switzerland ;
authors.forename: Erich
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Seifritz
authors.affiliation: b Psychiatric Services Solothurner Spitäler & University of Basel , Basel , Switzerland ;
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hatzinger
authors.affiliation: c Psychiatric Clinics of the University of Basel , Center for Affective, Stress and Sleep Disorders (ZASS) , Basel , Switzerland.
authors.forename: Edith
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Holsboer-Trachsler
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020902:Hypericum; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D017374:Paroxetine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D017374:Paroxetine; D010936:Plant Extracts; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors
keywords: Hypericum extract; St. John’s wort; WS® 5570; moderate major depressive episode; paroxetine