| | |  "Re(2):Great News for SJW Advocates"
, Thu 24 Apr 20:17
Yes, I didn't really think SJW needed any more proof than the hundreds of studies that already exist. I guess this study directly addresses the criticisms made of the recent US NIMH studies, which in turn were an American attempt to address criticism of the smaller European studies.
The French study is remarkable for a number of reasons. Firstly for consulting Jerry Cott, who had a lot to say about the design shortcomings of the US studies. Then there is the patient selection criteria, esp. the choice of HAM-D scores. Then you have dosage (3 x 300mg), extract type (WS 5572 instead of LI 160), duration (6 weeks) and of course the fact that it is a large-scale RDBPC trial (double-blind/placebo). You couldn't ask for more appropriate test conditions.
A few points are worth noting:
1. High placebo response rate (42.3%). This is expected in drug trials of this kind but it really goes to show that there is a lot more to treating depression than anti-depressant medication.
2. Lack of response in patients with HAM-D < 22. As the article states, this goes against expectations and is worthy of further exploration even with dysthymic patients.
3. WS-5570 spec: this is given in a footnote. 4-7:1 extract, hydroalcoholic, 3-6% hyperforin, 0.12-2.8% hypericin. These figures will have coem straight from the manufacturer (Willmar Schwabe).
Epyx
Posts: 524 | | Registered: Mon 3 Dec 2001 22:11 |
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Kelly
