The course of depression during therapy in studies is usually monitored by scales like HAMD. Also the course of single items of the HAMD during therapy might be of specific interest as some symptoms are of highly predictive value. Furthermore early improvement during antidepressive therapy is a new aspect which came into the focus.

The objectives of this study were to reanalyze clinical data regarding early improvement as well as specific symptoms or symptom cluster – like sleep disturbances.

The aim of this study was to get deeper insight into the data structure of 2 RCTs (n = 398, 42 days treatment) comparing the efficacy of a hypericum extract (STW3-VI/900 mg once daily) to Placebo.

Data structure was evaluated by comparing the total scores of the HAMD-17 to a single item analysis and by calculating the factorial structure of the end of treatment data. The treatment potential was evaluated by calculating a positive predictive value from day 7 to the end of treatment. ANCOVA, factor analysis and regression methods were used.

The single item analyses were widely comparable to the highly significant treatment differences of the total scores as it were the calculated subscales. The positive predictive value of the treatment was about 75%.

The results underline the elsewhere proven treatment efficacy of STW3-VI regarding several new subscale aspects.

COI: The authors are employees of Steigerwald Arzneimittelwerk GmbH, Darmstadt, Germany.