The prescription and rationale for the use of herbal medicines by psychiatrists in Karaj city, Iran in the treatment of depression

Background and Objectives: Depression is a deadly and debilitating disorder that has progressed rapidly in human societies, so effective treatments with fewer complications are needed. This disorder has different types and can be divided into major depressive disorder (including major depressive episode), persistent depressive disorders (dysthymia), DMDD or disruptive mood dysregulation disorder ,premenstrual dysphoric disorder, substance/medication induced depressive disorder, depressive disorder due to another medical condition, and other specified and unspecified depressive disorders. Depression cannot be considered a single disease because it can be a sign of many biological processes that are out of balance. Among the various treatments for depression, the use of synthetic drugs can be considered as the first line of treatment, although they do not help all patients and have their own side effects and can cause many problems. Since the general popularity of traditional medicine in Iran has become more widespread today and many herbs have been used for various purposes in the past, including depression, it may be good to explore the use of herbal medicines as new therapeutic approaches. Therefore, this article has explored anti depressant herbal medicines available in Iran and using a questionnaire to examine the approach of psychiatrists in Karaj to herbal medicines in the treatment of depression.
Method: The review section of this article is based on clinical trials and drugs introduced by pharmaceutical companies in Iran, and the second part (Chapter 3) of this article is related to statistical data and the results of interviews with psychiatrists. Communication with psychiatrists (25% of all psychiatrists in Karaj) has been done both in person and through social media (Instagram).
Results: According to the available research, effective herbal anti-depressants available in Iran are Hypiran, Perforan, Nervoxin, Rose oral drop, Rocina, SaffroMood, Cephalum Urtica, Deproherb drop and capsule, Epion, Simosleep tablet, Lavender syrupe, Ginkogol and Ginkgo TD tablets and GinSin capsule that often used to treat mild to moderate depression (not in severe cases). Among these drugs, Nervoxin, Perforan, Simosleep, Ginkogol, Ginkgo TD, SaffroMood and Ginsin are prescribed by some psychiatrists in Karaj, but most psychiatrists prefer to use synthetic drugs.
Conclusion: According to the results of the data of this article, it seems that herbal medicines are used in treating mild to moderate depression and with relatively few side effects. In most cases they are used as adjunct therapy. In the city of Karaj, Iran, 70% of psychiatrists use synthetic drugs and only 30% use herbal anti-depressants as occasional adjunctive therapy.