Curr Med Res Opin. 1999 ; 15(1): 33-7.

Hypericum in seasonal affective disorder (SAD).

Wheatley D.

Feighner Research Institute, Charter Chelsea Clinic, London, UK.

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 Kira alone was 21.3. This fell to 13 at endpoint (p < 0.001). The corresponding figures for 133 patients using Kira + 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 Kira + light group (p < 0.01). On the results of this survey, Hypericum would appear to be an effective treatment for SAD.