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Effect of K orean R ed G inseng as an adjuvant treatment for women with residual symptoms of major depression
Author(s) -
Jeong HyunGhang,
Ko YoungHoon,
Oh SoYoung,
Han Changsu,
Kim Taehee,
Joe SookHaeng
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
asia‐pacific psychiatry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.654
H-Index - 21
eISSN - 1758-5872
pISSN - 1758-5864
DOI - 10.1111/appy.12169
Subject(s) - ginseng , depression (economics) , adjuvant , traditional medicine , medicine , residual , psychology , alternative medicine , computer science , pathology , economics , macroeconomics , algorithm
Around 20% of patients with major depression experience residual symptoms. G inseng has shown potential antidepressant effects in some animal studies and in patients with stress‐related somatic symptoms. Therefore, we investigated the effectiveness and tolerability of K orean R ed G inseng adjuvant treatment in patients with residual symptoms of major depression. Methods I n this eight‐week prospective study, 35 female outpatients aging from 18 to 65 years (45.1 ± 9.5), who were remitted from major depression with residual symptoms, were given K orean R ed G inseng at doses of 3 g/day. The Depression Residual Symptom Scale ( DRSS ) and Montgomery–Åsberg Depression Rating Scale ( MADRS ) were administrated to evaluate depressive symptoms. The general severity of symptoms was assessed by a clinician using the Clinical Global Impressions Scale for Severity ( CGI ‐ S ). The Depression and Somatic Symptom Scale ( DSSS ) was also used to evaluate somatic symptoms in the subjects. This trial is registered at C linical.gov, number NCT 01496248. Results Subjects reported significant decrease in depressive symptoms on the DRSS ( P < 0.05) and MADRS ( P < 0.01) decreased significantly over the eight‐week period. The scores on the CGI ‐ S , an objective measurement of symptoms, showed significant improvement in the severity of illness ( P < 0.001). Somatic symptoms on the DSSS also attenuated significantly during the study period ( P < 0.05). Discussion These results suggest that K orean R ed G inseng is efficacious as an adjuvant treatment for patients experiencing residual symptoms of major depression. Future placebo‐controlled research is required to confirm our results.