hypericum and Schizophrenia

Auditory evoked potentials (AEP) provide a correlate of cognitive dysfunction in schizophrenia. Both cognitive dysfunction and AEP-characteristics might be related to reduced glutamatergic neurotransmission as induced by glutamate-antagonist like ketamine. Hypericum extract LI160 has demonstrated a ketamine-antagonising effect. We examined whether LI160 reverses changes of a low dose ketamine on AEP in healthy subjects.. We performed a double-blind randomized treatment with either 2 x 750 mg LI 160 or placebo given one week, using a crossover design, in 16 health subjects. A test-battery including AEPs, the oculodynamic test (ODT) and a cognitive test were performed before and after an infusion with 4 mg of S-ketamine over a period of 1 hour.. S-ketamine lead to a significant decrease in the N100-P200 peak to peak (ptp) amplitude after the placebo treatment, whereas ptp was significantly increased by S-ketamine infusion in the LI160 treated subjects. The ODT and the cognitive testing revealed no significant effect of ketamine-infusion and therefore no interaction between treatment groups.. AEP measures are sensitive means to assess the effect of low dose ketamine. Provided that ketamine mimics cognitive deficits in schizophrenia, LI160 might be effective to treat these symptoms.

Topics: Adult; Cognition Disorders; Cross-Over Studies; Double-Blind Method; Evoked Potentials, Auditory; Female; Glutamine; Humans; Hypericum; Ketamine; Male; Middle Aged; Neuropsychological Tests; Phytotherapy; Plant Extracts; Schizophrenia; Schizophrenic Psychology

To report 2 cases of adverse reactions to St John's wort, a popular herbal treatment for depression.. We present 2 case histories and review the existing literature regarding St John's wort.. St John's wort may cause serotonin syndrome in sensitive patients. In addition, St John's wort may be associated with hair loss.. For clinical reasons, it is important to recognize and report adverse reactions to herbal remedies and to document that these treatments have side effects commensurate with their potent action on brain neurochemistry.

Topics: Adult; Alopecia; Depressive Disorder; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Female; Humans; Hypericum; Male; Phytotherapy; Plants, Medicinal; Schizophrenia; Serotonin Syndrome

Topics: Acute Disease; Adult; Antipsychotic Agents; Benzodiazepines; Female; Humans; Hypericum; Male; Olanzapine; Pirenzepine; Plants, Medicinal; Recurrence; Risperidone; Schizophrenia