Effects of ST. John's wort on depressive disorder in elderly patients with hypertension and diabetes

Abstract

Objective To explore the clinical curative effect of ST. John's wort(SWE) on depressive disorder in elderly patients with hypertension and diabetes. Methods 106 hypertensive patients with diabe-tes and depressive disorder were randomly assigned to SWE group (n = 30) ,psychotherapy group (n = 24) , physicotherapy group (n =28) and placebo group (n = 26) for 12 weeks' treatment. The clinical effect were evaluated separately with reduction percent of HAMD and after the treatment, blood pressure levels and HbA1c were monitored. Results (1) The reduction percent of HAMD was highest(80%) in SWE group, lower in physieotherapy and psychotherapy group (50% and 54.2%), well lowest in placebo group(37%), the difference was significant(P < 0.05). The effect of SWE was better than that of the others (P < 0.05). (2) The level of blood pressure in SWE was significant lower than that of the others(P < 0.05). (3) The lev-el of HbA1c in SWE group was significant lower than that of the others(P < 0.05). Conclusion SWE can efficiently improve the depressive disorder in elderly patients with hypertension and diabetes, and it is good for controlling blood pressure and HbA1c of the patients. Key words: Hypertension; Diabetes mellitus; Depressive disorder; Psychotherapy; Physicotherapy