This observational study observes the routine use of low-dose St John's Wort herbal mother tincture in patients with major depression. It measures intensity of depression at the beginning of St Johns Wort and after 6 weeks and evaluates tolerability and compliance.

Herbal medicine is widely used, and high-quality evidence shows their efficacy and tolerability for specific disorders. Most of the studies, however, is conducted with standardized, relatively high dosed dry extract preparations, while other preparations such as tinctures are widely used as well. The aim of this observational study ist to document real-live use of the use of a low-dose herbal medicine preparation (a mother tincture) of St John's Wort (Hypericum perforatum), to compare depression intensity at the beginning and after 6 weeks of therapy using the Hamilton Depression Scale 17, and to evaluate tolerability and compliance. Finally, the results will be compared with results of randomized controlled trials examining high dosed dry extract preparations of St John's Wort for major depression.

Inclusion Criteria:

• diagnosis of mild or moderate depression according to ICD-10 or DSM-IV
• new start of CERES St John's wort mother tincture

Exclusion Criteria:

- at the same time as St John's wort mother tincture started, other antidepressive therapy

patients of outpatient physicians which are used to the therapy of major depression with CERES St John's Wort mother tincture