A systematic review on the efficacy, safety and types of Chinese herbal medicine for depression

• Published in: Journal of psychiatric research 2014-10, Vol.57, p.165-175
• Main Authors: Yeung, Wing-Fai, Chung, Ka-Fai, Ng, Ka-Yan, Yu, Yee-Man, Ziea, Eric Tat-Chi, Ng, Bacon Fung-Leung
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Adult and adolescent clinical studies; Antidepressive Agents - adverse effects; Antidepressive Agents - therapeutic use; Biological and medical sciences; Chinese herbal medicine; Depression; Depressive Disorder, Major - drug therapy; Depressive Disorder, Major - psychology; Female; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Medicine, Chinese Traditional - adverse effects; Medicine, Chinese Traditional - methods; Meta-analysis; Middle Aged; Miscellaneous; Mood disorders; Plant Preparations - adverse effects; Plant Preparations - therapeutic use; Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Systematic review; TCM; Treatment Outcome
• ISSN: 0022-3956; 1879-1379
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2014.05.016

Abstract Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) is one of the commonly used complementary and alternative medicine therapies for major depressive disorder. The objective of this study was to review the efficacy, safety and types of CHM for depression. We systematically searched key databases (9 Chinese and 7 English) up until May 2013 for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and examined 7 systematic reviews for additional articles. Methodological quality was assessed by modified Jadad scale and Cochrane's risk of bias assessment. Only studies with moderate methodological quality, defined as modified Jadad scale score ≥3, were included in meta-analysis for efficacy. Of the 296 RCTs that were assessed in details, 278 (93.9%) had modified Jadad scale score