Hypericum in Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

Summary

Volunteers from the membership of the SAD Association took part in a postal survey, before and after eight weeks' treatment with Hypericum (Kira®), using an 11-item rating scale. The maximum score is 44 and the mean score in 168 patients using Kir a alone was 21.3. This fell to 13 at endpoint (p < 0.001). The corresponding figures for 133 patients using Kir a + light therapy were 20.6 and 11.8, respectively (p < 0.001). In both groups, there was significant improvement in anxiety, loss of libido and insomnia. There were no significant between-group differences on any measure except that improvement in sleep was greater in the Kir a + light group (p < 0.01). On the results of this survey, Hypericum would appear to be an effective treatment for SAD.

Key Words::

• Hypericum
• Libido
• Light therapy
• SAD
• Seasonal affective disorder
• Sleep