Antidepressant Effects of the Herb Salvia Divinorum: A Case Report
Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology December 1, 2001 DOI: 10.1097/00004714-200112000-00025 via OpenAlex
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractA 26-year-old woman with lifelong depression marked by worthlessness, social disinterest, and lack of meaning first tried sertraline 50 mg daily for 3 months but stopped due to no benefit. A 6-month course of cognitive-behavioural therapy brought some improvement but not full resolution, with Hamilton Depression Rating Scale scores remaining in the moderately depressed range (19-21).
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Case study Case report Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 1 |
| Population | 26-year-old woman with history of depression |
| Interventions | Sertraline Cognitive-behavioural therapy |
| Dose | 50 mg daily |
| Duration | 3 months of sertraline, 6 months of cognitive-behavioural therapy |
| Keywords | Antidepressant Traditional medicine Salvia Medicinal herbs Psychiatry |
| Citations | 69 |
| Key finding | Neither sertraline nor cognitive-behavioural therapy produced significant or sustained remission of depressive symptoms in this patient. |
Abstract
Ms. G is a 26-year-old woman with a history of depression that has shown no significant periods of remission since adolescence and has been predominated by feelings of worthlessness, lack of interest in social activities, an absence of occupational satisfaction, and inability to find purpose and meaning in her life. After first seeking treatment for her depression 5 years ago Ms. G was prescribed sertraline, 50 mg daily, which she self-discontinued after 3 months, reporting no significant benefits. Ms. G then underwent a course of cognitive-behavioural therapy for about 6 months, with some improvement but no definitive resolution of her symptoms. Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D 1 ) scores during the 6-month period of cognitive-behavioural therapy were consistently in the moderately depressed range (i.e. 19-21).