This article is more than 5 years old. Information may no longer be current.
Roseroot may be beneficial aid for mild to moderate depression
Click Here to Manage Email Alerts
Rhodiola rosea has less antidepressive effects than traditional depression medication, but also results in significantly less adverse effects, according to recently published data.
“These results are a bit preliminary but suggest that herbal therapy may have the potential to help patients with depression who cannot tolerate conventional antidepressants due to side effects,” Jun J. Mao, MD, MSCE, associate professor of Family Medicine, Community Health and Epidemiology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine said in a press release.
Jun J. Mao
Mao and colleagues performed a phase 2 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study to compare the efficacy of R. rosea with sertraline in mild to moderate depressive disorder. Participants, previously diagnosed with depressive disorder, were randomized to receive placebo (n = 18), sertraline (n = 19) or R. rosea (n = 20).
At the end of the 12-week trial period, modest decreases were seen in Hamilton Depression Rating (HAM-D), Beck Depression Inventory and Clinical Global Impression Change scores. However, the researchers noted that these changes were not statistically significant.
Declines in HAM-D scores were greatest among sertraline users (– 8.2; 95% CI, – 12.7 to – 3.6) compared with R. rosea (– 5.1; 95% CI, – 8.8 to – 1.3) and placebo (– 4.6; 95% CI, – 8.6 to – 0.6).
While patients in the sertraline group were more likely to improve compared with placebo, more participants reported adverse events (63%), compared with only 30% in the R. rosea group and 16.7% in the placebo group.
“The identification of a safe and effective alternative therapy for mild to moderate [major depressive disorder] would be of public health relevance for many individuals unable, or unwilling, to use conventional antidepressant therapy,” Mao and colleagues wrote. – by Casey Hower
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.