hypericum and Attention-Deficit-Disorder-with-Hyperactivity

Emotional and behavioral problems in children and adolescents are no exception. To what extent a fixed plant extract combination is able to support children suffering from nervous agitation due to agitated depression among others for approximately 2 years has been investigated in a multicenter, prospective observational study (2008) with 115 children between 6 and 12 years. Assessments of the parents showed a distinct improvement in children who had attention problems, showed social withdrawal, and/or were anxious/depressive. Based on the physicians' assessment, 81.6-93.9% of the affected children had no or just mild symptoms at the end of observation concerning nine of thirteen evaluated symptoms such as depression, school/examination anxieties, further anxieties, sleeping problems, and different physical problems. Therapeutic success was not influenced by additional medication or therapies. The treatment was well tolerated. The used plant extracts have been gained from St. John's Wort herb, valerian root, and passionflower herb.

Topics: Anxiety Disorders; Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity; Child; Child Behavior Disorders; Comorbidity; Depressive Disorder; Drug Combinations; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Germany; Humans; Hypericum; Male; Passiflora; Phytotherapy; Plant Extracts; Psychomotor Agitation; Surveys and Questionnaires; Treatment Outcome; Valerian

Stimulant medication can effectively treat 60% to 70% of youth with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Yet many parents seek alternative therapies, and Hypericum perforatum (St John's wort) is 1 of the top 3 botanicals used.. To determine the efficacy and safety of H. perforatum for the treatment of ADHD in children.. Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial conducted between March 2005 and August 2006 at Bastyr University, Kenmore, Washington, among a volunteer sample of 54 children aged 6 to 17 years who met Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (Fourth Edition) criteria for ADHD by structured interview.. After a placebo run-in phase of 1 week, participants were randomly assigned to receive 300 mg of H. perforatum standardized to 0.3% hypericin (n = 27) or a matched placebo (n = 27) 3 times daily for 8 weeks. Other medications for ADHD were not allowed during the trial.. Performance on the ADHD Rating Scale-IV (range, 0-54) and Clinical Global Impression Improvement Scale (range, 0-7), and adverse events.. One patient in the placebo group withdrew because of an adverse event. No significant difference was found in the change in ADHD Rating Scale-IV scores from baseline to week 8 between the treatment and placebo groups: inattentiveness improved 2.6 points (95% confidence interval [CI], -4.6 to -0.6 points) with H. perforatum vs 3.2 points (95% CI, -5.7 to -0.8 points) with placebo (P = .68) and hyperactivity improved 1.8 points (95% CI, -3.7 to 0.1 points) with H. perforatum vs 2.0 points (95% CI, -4.1 to 0.1 points) with placebo (P = .89). There was also no significant difference between the 2 groups in the percentage of participants who met criteria for improvement (score < or = 2) on the Clinical Global Impression Improvement Scale (H. perforatum, 44.4%; 95% CI, 25.5%-64.7% vs placebo, 51.9%; 95% CI, 31.9%-71.3%; P = .59). No difference between groups was found in the number of participants who experienced adverse effects during the study period (H. perforatum, 40.7%; 95% CI, 22.4%-61.2% vs placebo, 44.4%; 95% CI, 25.5%-64.7%; P = .78).. In this study, use of H. perforatum for treatment of ADHD over the course of 8 weeks did not improve symptoms.. clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00100295.

Topics: Adolescent; Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity; Child; Double-Blind Method; Female; Humans; Hypericum; Male; Phytotherapy

There is evidence for the efficacy of noradrenaline and serotonin reuptake inhibitors treating attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). In this open trial, we checked St. John's wort, a serotonin and noradrealine reuptake inhibitor, and actually used as an antidepressant, for this indication. Three 14-16-year-old male psychiatric outpatients, diagnosed with ADHD have been rated at baseline and while taking St. John's wort or a placebo, respectively, by the Conner Scale and by the Continuous Performance Test, to determine its efficacy as a treatment option for ADHD. Patients' mean scores improved for Conners' hyperactivity, inattention and immaturity factors. Although the sample size is very small and therefore generalisation is very difficult, this observation indicates that St. John's wort might be a slightly effective treatment for ADHD also.

Topics: Adolescent; Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity; Humans; Hypericum; Male; Phytotherapy

Plant extracts such as Hypericum perforatum and Pycnogenol have been tested as alternatives to the classical ADHD drugs. It has been possible to describe neuroprotective effects of such plant extracts. A reduction of ADHD symptoms could be shown in clinical studies after the application of Pycnogenol, which is a pine bark extract. The impacts of the standardized herbal extracts Hypericum perforatum, Pycnogenol and Enzogenol up to a concentration of 5000 ng/mL on cell survival and energy metabolism in human SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells has been investigated in the present examination. Hypericum perforatum significantly decreased the survival of cells after treatment with a concentration of 5000 ng/mL, whereas lower concentrations exerted no significant effects. Pycnogenol( induced a significant increase of cell survival after incubation with a concentration of 32.25 ng/mL and a concentration of 250 ng/mL. Other applied concentrations of Pycnogenol failed to exert significant effects. Treatment with Enzogenol did not lead to significant changes in cell survival.Concerning energy metabolism, the treatment of cells with a concentration of 5000 ng/mL Hypericum perforatum led to a significant increase of ATP levels, whereas treatment with a concentration of 500 ng/mL had no significant effect. Incubation of cells with Pycnogenol and Enzogenol exerted no significant effects.None of the tested substances caused any cytotoxic effect when used in therapeutically relevant concentrations.

Topics: Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Survival; Energy Metabolism; Flavonoids; Humans; Hypericum; Phytotherapy; Plant Extracts; Quercetin

Topics: Adult; Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity; Female; Humans; Hypericum; Phytotherapy; Plant Extracts; Premenstrual Syndrome; Treatment Outcome

Topics: Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity; Complementary Therapies; Evidence-Based Medicine; Humans; Hypericum; Phytotherapy; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic

Topics: Adolescent; Aged; Antipsychotic Agents; Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity; Child; Dementia; Drug Labeling; Humans; Hypericum; Plant Extracts; United States; United States Food and Drug Administration

Topics: Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity; Child; Clinical Trials as Topic; Depression; Humans; Hypericum; Phytotherapy; Research Design; Treatment Outcome

Topics: Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity; Drug Interactions; Humans; Hypericum; Methylphenidate; Models, Biological; Phytotherapy

To examine whether herbal medicines were given to children or adolescents receiving care for attention-deficit-hyperactivity disorder or depression.. Between October 2000 and July 2001, a 23-item questionnaire was administered in five community mental health centers in Texas. Parents or primary caregivers of children who received a psychiatric assessment were sought for participation. One hundred seventeen caregivers completed a questionnaire. The main outcome measure was primary caregivers' self-report of the use of herbal therapy in their children.. The lifetime prevalence of herbal therapy in patients was 20% (23 patients). Eighteen patients (15%) had taken herbal medicines during the past year. Recommendations from a friend or relative resulted in the administration of herbal medicines by 61% of 23 caregivers. Herbal medicines were given most frequently for a behavioral condition, with ginkgo biloba, echinacea, and St. John's wort most prevalent. Almost 83% of caregivers gave herbal medicines alone, whereas 13% gave herbal medicines with prescription drugs. Most caregivers (78%) supervised the administration of herbal therapy in their children; the children's psychiatrists (70%), pediatricians (56%), or pharmacists (74%) typically were not aware of the use.. Most caregivers supervised herbal therapy in their children, without communication with a health professional. A need exists for better communication between health professionals and caregivers regarding the use of herbal therapy.

Topics: Adolescent; Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity; Child; Child Health Services; Colorado; Depression; Drug Interactions; Echinacea; Female; Ginkgo biloba; Humans; Hypericum; Male; Physician-Patient Relations; Phytotherapy; Plant Preparations; Surveys and Questionnaires; Texas