Therapeutic effects of St. John's Wort extract on depressive disorder in elderly patients with diabetes / 中华老年医学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To explore the clinical therapeutic effects of St. John's Wort exact (SWE)on depressive disorder and blood glucose in elderly type 2 diabetic patients Methods 118 patients with type 2 diabetes and depressive disorder were randomly assigned to SWE group (26 cases),lorazepam group (22 cases ), psychotherapy group (24 cases), physicotherapy group (24 cases) and control group (routine therapy,22 cases) for 12 weeks' treatment. The clinical effects were evaluated with the percentage reduction in HAMD score after the treatment, HbAlc levels were obtained to monitor glycemic control. Results (1) The percentage reduction in HAMD score in SWE group was the highest (80. 8%), and it was lower in lorazepam group ( 63. 6%), psychotherapy group (62. 5%) and physicotherapy group(58. 3%). The percent decrease in H AMD score was higher in four groups than in control group ( 18. 2%) and the difference was significant (P < 0. 01). The therapeutic effect of SWE was better than the others(P0. 05). (2) The level of HbAlc in SWE group (6.5±0. 6)% was significantly lower than the others [( 7. 5 ± 0. 8) %, (7.4 ± 0. 8) %, (7. 4 ±1.0) % (P < 0. 01 )]. Conclusions St. John' s Wort exact (SWE) can efficiently improve the depressive disorder in elderly type 2 diabetic patients, and it is good for controlling blood glucose of the patients.