The PhytoVIS study, presumably the largest study worldwide on herbal medicines, is a non-interventional study (NIS) conducted in pharmacies and physician's offices in Germany with 20,870 patients. It aims to describe the epidemiology, medical needs and perceived effectiveness of the therapy with these products [1]. In this setting, it is of special interest to evaluate the respective data on the St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum L.) preparations used in psychic depression to identify potential specific patterns of its therapeutic use.
The total database of 24,056 patient questionnaires was screened for the use of a leading product in this field, Laif® 900. Epidemiological data on gender, age and disease state as well as on the use a perception of the herbal product were evaluated. 80 patients taking Laif® 900 were identified. The majority of patients was female. The general tolerability of the product was good. In 41% of all patients the perceived effect was very good, and another 43% gave it to be moderate to distinct. Only in 4% of patients perceived no effect.
Due to the provenience of the present data from a large non product-specific survey, they augment, despite of the rather small sample size, the available evidence on Hypericum perforatum products in moderate depression. The majority of patients gave the effect to be moderate or better with more than a third stating it to be very good. This confirmed the positive rating of its use already described in previous non-interventional and interventional studies [2].
Acknowledgment:
The study is supported by Kooperation Phytopharmaka GbR, Bonn, Germany.
References:
[1] Raskopf E et al. Z Phytother 2017; 38(Suppl. 1): S40-S41
[2] Kresimon J et al. Gesundh Ökon Qual Manag 2012; 17: 198 – 206
