Crocus Sativus L. (saffron) versus sertraline on symptoms of depression among older people with major depressive disorders-a double-blind, randomized intervention study.

BACKGROUND: While there is sufficient evidence that Crocus Sativus L. (saffron) improves symptoms of depression in young and middle-aged adults, research on older people are missing. The purpose of the double-blind, randomized intervention study was to compare the effect of saffron and sertraline on MDD among a sample of older people. METHODS: A total of 50 older out-patients with MDD (mean age = =65 years; 70% males) were randomly assigned either to the saffron condition (60 mg/d) or to the sertraline condition (100 mg/day) for six consecutive weeks. Experts employed the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) to rate participants' degree of depression. Timepoints were baseline, week 2, week 4 and week 6, the end of the study. RESULTS: Symptoms of depression decreased over time, with no advantages or disadvantages for the saffron or sertraline condition. CONCLUSION: The pattern of results suggests that both saffron and sertraline have the potential to significantly decrease symptoms of depression. The results are clinically relevant, because major depressive disorders in older people is a health concern. The results are further relevant, because saffron appears to be a powerful antidepressant for older people, who might be more reluctant to the use of synthetic drugs.

Effects of crocin in reducing DNA damage, inflammation, and oxidative stress in multiple sclerosis patients: A double-blind, randomized, and placebo-controlled trial.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks the nerve cells, resulting in neurological disorders. Oxidative stress, free radicals, and neuritis have important roles in MS pathogenesis. Here, we aim to evaluate the effect of crocin on inflammatory markers, oxidative damage, and deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) damage in the blood of patients with MS. A total of 40 patients were divided into two groups, drug and placebo-treated groups, using random assignment. Participants of the intervention and control groups received two crocin capsules or placebo per day for 28 days, respectively. Findings revealed a significant decrease in the level of important pathogenic factors in MS, including lipid peroxidation, DNA damage, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and interleukin 17 as well as a significant increase in the total antioxidant capacity in the serum of patients treated with crocin compared with the placebo group. Our results suggest the beneficial and therapeutic effects of crocin in MS.

Influence of adjuvant detached mindfulness and stress management training compared to pharmacologic treatment in primiparae with postpartum depression.

Ten to 15% of mothers experience postpartum depression (PPD). If untreated, PPD may negatively affect mothers' and infants' mental health in the long term. Accordingly, effective treatments are required. In the present study, we investigated the effect of detached mindfulness (DM) and stress management training (SMT) as adjuvants, compared to pharmacologic treatment only, on symptoms of depression in women with PPD. Forty-five primiparae (mean age: M = 24.5 years) with diagnosed PPD and treated with an SSRI (citalopram; CIT) took part in the study. At baseline, they completed questionnaires covering socio-demographic data and symptoms of depression. Experts rated also symptoms of depression. Next, participants were randomly assigned to one of the following study conditions: adjuvant detached mindfulness (CIT+DM); adjuvant stress management training (CIT+SMT); control condition (CIT). Self- and experts' ratings were completed at the end of the study 8 weeks later, and again at 8 weeks follow-up. Symptoms of depression decreased significantly over time, but more so in the CIT+DM and CIT+SMT group, compared to the control condition. The pattern of results remained stable at follow-up. In primiparae with PPD and treated with a standard SSRI, adjuvant psychotherapeutic interventions led to significant and longer-lasting improvements.

Adjuvant thiamine improved standard treatment in patients with major depressive disorder: results from a randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled clinical trial.

Given that antidepressants (ADs) work slowly, there is interest in means to accelerate their therapeutic effect and to reduce side effects. In this regard, thiamine (vitamin B1) is attracting growing interest. Thiamine is an essential nutrient, while thiamine deficiency leads to a broad variety of disorders including irritability and symptoms of depression. Here, we tested the hypothesis that adjuvant thiamine would reduce depression, compared to placebo. A total of 51 inpatients (mean age: 35.2 years; 53 % females) with MDD (Hamilton Depression Rating Scale score (HDRS) at baseline: >24) took part in the study. A standardized treatment with SSRI was introduced and kept at therapeutic levels throughout the study. Patients were randomly assigned either to the thiamine or the placebo condition. Experts rated (HDRS) symptoms of depression at baseline, and after 3, 6, and 12 weeks (end of the study). Between baseline and the end of the study, depression had reduced in both groups. Compared to placebo, adjuvant thiamine improved symptoms of depression after 6 week of treatment, and improvements remained fairly stable until the end of the study, though mean differences at week 12 were not statistically significant anymore. No adverse side effects were reported in either group. Results suggest that among younger patients with MDD adjuvant thiamine alleviated symptoms of depression faster compared to placebo. Importantly, improvements were observed within 6 weeks of initiation of treatment. Thus, thiamine might have the potential to counteract the time lag in the antidepressant effects of ADs.

Celecoxib adjunctive therapy for acute bipolar mania: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

OBJECTIVES: Recent research has focused on the inflammatory cascade as a key culprit in the etiology of bipolar disorder. We hypothesized that celecoxib, via its anti-inflammatory properties, may have a therapeutic role in mood disorder. METHODS: Forty-six inpatients with the diagnosis of acute bipolar mania without psychotic features participated in a parallel, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, and underwent six weeks of treatment with either celecoxib (400 mg daily) or placebo as an adjunctive treatment to sodium valproate. Patients were evaluated using the Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS) and Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS). The primary outcome measure with respect to efficacy was the mean decrease in YMRS score from baseline to the study endpoint, which was compared between the two groups. RESULTS: A significant difference was observed in the change in YMRS scores on Day 42 compared to baseline in the two groups (p < 0.001). The changes at the endpoint compared to baseline were -29.78 ± 21.78 (mean ± standard deviation) and -21.78 ± 7.16 for the celecoxib and placebo groups, respectively. A significantly higher remission rate was observed in the celecoxib group (87.0%) than the placebo group (43.5%) at Week 6 (p = 0.005). General linear model repeated measures demonstrated a significant effect for the time × treatment interaction on the YMRS scores [F(2.27,99.98) = 6.67, p = 0.001]. CONCLUSIONS: Celecoxib is an effective adjuvant therapy in the treatment of manic episodes (without psychotic features) of bipolar mood disorder. The mood-stabilizing role of the drug might be mediated via its action on the inflammatory cascade.