70-90% of depressive patients are treated by their own family doctors. Recognising and treating depression is an important daily problem for family doctors. The severity of the disorder decides whether non-pharmacological therapy or pharmacotherapy is preferable. The choice and dosage of an antidepressant is dictated by the severity and the symptomatology of the disorder as well as the expected adverse effects. Not least on account of their low rate of adverse effects, phytotherapeutic agents are enjoying growing popularity among patients and thus assure high compliance. The use of herbal preparations is useful, in particular for mild to moderate depression in young patients or patients with a reserved attitude toward "chemical drugs". Of all phytopharmaceuticals St.-John's wort has been most widely scientifically documented for the treatment of depression.