| Methods |
Concealment: numbered pharmacy
Blinding: double‐blind
Drop‐outs/withdrawals:15 of 98 (hypericum), 13 of 102 (placebo)
Jadad score: 2‐2‐1
IV score: 1‐1‐1‐1‐1‐1 |
| Participants |
Patients included/analyzed: 200/195
Demographics: 64% female, mean age 42 years
Diagnosis: major depression (DSM‐IV)
Setting: 11 academic medical centers in the USA
Baseline: mean HAMD values above 22 in both groups |
| Interventions |
Treatment: Hypericum extract LI 160 3x1 to 4x1 tablet (900 to 1200 mg) for 8 weeks
Control: placebo for 8 weeks |
| Outcomes |
Observation period: 1 week run‐in, 8 weeks treatment
Phsician‐rated: Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD, 17 items, at least 50% reduction), Clinical Global Impression Index (CGI), Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA)
Patient‐rated: Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) |
| Notes |
Average duration of current depressive episode more than 2 years. Additional information provided from authors |
| Risk of bias |
| Bias |
Authors' judgement |
Support for judgement |
| Allocation concealment? |
Low risk |
A ‐ Adequate |
