The Effect of Aromatherapy on Anxiety in Patients

Abstract

BackgroundAnxiety is the most common mental disorder in end-stage renal disease patients. The use of aromatherapy as a treatment for anxiety has increased substantially in most countries.ObjectivesThis study aimed to investigate the effect of inhaling rose water aromatherapy on anxiety in hemodialysis patients.MethodsThis randomized controlled clinical trial was carried out in the hemodialysis ward of Birjand Vali-Asr hospital on 46 patients who were randomly divided into control and experimental groups. The standard state-trait anxiety inventory of Spielberger was used to investigate the anxiety level of the samples. The experimental group inhaled rose water for 4 weeks, but the control group did not undergo any intervention. At the end of week 2 and week 4, the participants’ anxiety was measured, and the results were statistically analyzed.ResultsMean scores of state and trait anxiety in the experimental group before intervention were 47/47 ± 7/6 and 49/56 ± 13/8, respectively; those after week 4 following the intervention were reduced to 37/1 ± 6/5 and 42/9 ± 10/1; inhalation of rose water fragrance in the experimental group caused a significant decrease (P < 0.001) in the state and trait anxiety levels compared with controls (P = 0.43).ConclusionsAccording to the present study, rose water noticeably reduces the anxiety of hemodialysis patients. Therefore, inhalation of rose water can improve the patient’s emotional and spiritual condition during hemodialysis treatment.

Anxiolytic-like effect of Lippia alba essential oil: A randomized, placebo-controlled trial

“…Although more precisely speaking, state anxiety scores showed a large size effect in comparison with trait anxiety scores that only exhibited medium size effect. This is in accordance with other studies which investigated the effectiveness of aromatherapy in reducing a state anxiety situation [11,32]. This may be due to the fact that state anxiety is related to temporary situations that change every moment, and when they disappear, the person no longer experiences anxiety; on the other hand, trait anxiety is related to particular and permanent personality features [33].…”

The Effect of Inhalation Aromatherapy With Damask Rose (Rosa Damascena) on the Pain of Elderly After Knee Arthroplasty

“…The findings of the current study were in line with the study conducted by Barati et al (2016) to study the effect of the aromatherapy with Damask Rose on the anxiety of hemodialysis patients and demonstrated that the group receiving the aromatherapy had a significant reduction in anxiety score after 4 weeks of intervention, compared to the control group The result of the current study was also consistent with the study conducted by Marofi et al (1994) conducted with the aim of comparing the effect of the rose flower, fragrant geranium, and sweet almond oil on the severity of pain after pediatric surgery. Children's pain was very intense while entering the treatment section and before the intervention in all three groups, however, after applying the intervention in the two groups of aromatherapy with the rose flower and fragrant geranium has been effective in pain relief compared to sweet almond oil (as a placebo).…”

“…The Damask Rose, an indigenous plant of Iran, is one of the 308 species of the Rose family. It is being used to improve physical and mental health since ancient times (Barati et al 2016). This plant has soothing, sedative, anticonvulsant, antispasmodic, antibacterial, and antiviral effects and contains vitamins (A, C, B1, B2, B3, and K), citric acid, pectin, flavonoid, and carotenoid (Bikmoradi et al 2016).…”

Evaluation of aromatherapy with essential oils of Rosa damascena for the management of premenstrual syndrome

“…One study demonstrated beneficial effects of R. damascena essential oil on sleep disorders, depression, anxiety, and pain, which are some of the symptoms of PMS. An Iranian study showed that inhalation of R. damascena can reduce anxiety among patients undergoing hemodialysis. The ability of R. damascena essential oil to improve the symptoms of depression and sexual dysfunction owing to treatment with selective serotonin‐reuptake inhibitors was confirmed among patients with major depressive disorders .…”