Evaluation of the efficacy and safety of Yukwool-tang for major depressive disorder in women: A randomized, double blinded, placebo-controlled, parallel trial

• Published in: Medicine (Baltimore) 2024-05, Vol.103 (21), p.e38208
• Main Authors: Seo, Young Kyung, Choi, Sunyoung, Choi, Youngeun, Choi, Sungmin, Kwon, Ojin, Kim, Hyungjun, Jung, In Chul
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Antidepressive Agents - administration & dosage; Antidepressive Agents - adverse effects; Antidepressive Agents - therapeutic use; Depressive Disorder, Major - drug therapy; Double-Blind Method; Drugs, Chinese Herbal - administration & dosage; Drugs, Chinese Herbal - adverse effects; Drugs, Chinese Herbal - therapeutic use; Female; Humans; Middle Aged; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; Republic of Korea; Treatment Outcome
• ISSN: 0025-7974; 1536-5964; 1536-5964
• DOI: 10.1097/MD.0000000000038208

Major depressive disorder (MDD) occurs more often in women than that in men due to various complex causes. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of Yukwool-tang (YWT) for MDD in women. A total of 72 patients diagnosed with MDD and Korean version of the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (K-HDRS) ≥ 14 points were randomly assigned to the YWT or placebo group, and 1 bottle (30 mg) of No-S solution and placebo was administered to the YWT and placebo groups, respectively, orally thrice a day for 8 weeks. The evaluation was conducted through K-HDRS, Korean version of the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-K), Korean version of the Beck Hopelessness Scale (K-BHS), Korean version of the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI-K), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-K), EuroQol-5 dimension (EQ-5D), and Pattern Identifications Tool for Depression (PITD). Fifty patients completed the trial. In the YWT group, the K-HDRS, BDI-K, K-BHS, ISI-K, STAI-K, and EQ-5D scores changed significantly at the 8th week, but there were no significant differences with the placebo. In subgroup analysis, the K-BHS score with an initial K-HDRS score