Effectiveness of Chinese Herbal Formula Xiao Yao San for Depression
Author Information
Author(s): Zhang Yuqing, Han Mei, Liu Zhijun, Wang Jie, He Qingyong, Liu Jianping
Primary Institution: Guang'anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Science
Hypothesis
Does Xiao Yao San provide beneficial effects for patients with depression compared to standard treatments?
Conclusion
Xiao Yao San appears to improve symptoms in patients with depression, but its benefits need confirmation through more rigorous trials.
Supporting Evidence
- 26 randomized trials involving 1837 patients were included in the review.
- Xiao Yao San combined with antidepressants showed a significant improvement in HAMD scores.
- Xiao Yao San was not significantly different from placebo for SDS scores.
- Adverse effects were not reported in the trials using Xiao Yao San.
Takeaway
Xiao Yao San is a herbal medicine that might help people feel better when they're sad, but we need more studies to be sure it works.
Methodology
Systematic review of 26 randomized controlled trials assessing Xiao Yao San against placebo and antidepressants.
Potential Biases
Moderate risk of bias due to inadequate reporting of randomization and blinding procedures.
Limitations
Most trials had low methodological quality and did not report sample size calculations or adequate blinding.
Participant Demographics
Participants aged 17 to 80 years, with a majority suffering from depression.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.0007
Confidence Interval
[1.04, 1.17]
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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