<i>Citrus aurantium</i> Aroma for Anxiety in Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome: A Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Trial

Abstract

<b><i>Objective:</i></b> This study evaluated the antianxiety effect of <i>Citrus aurantium</i> aroma (neroli oil) inhalation on patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). <b><i>Design:</i></b> A double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized trial. <b><i>Setting/Location:</i></b> This study was conducted in the Coronary Care Unit of Torfeh Hospital in Tehran, Iran, from September 2017 to February 2018. <b><i>Subjects:</i></b> A total of 140 hospitalized ACS patients (mean age = 56.72 ± 11.38 years) <b><i>Interventions:</i></b> Eligible patients were randomly assigned to citrus aroma and placebo groups to receive inhalation aromatherapy 2 days after hospitalization. Citrus aroma was 30% essential oil of <i>Citrus aurantium</i> L. flowers in paraffin, which was administrated three times a day. The placebo group received paraffin similarly. <b><i>Outcome measures:</i></b> The rate of anxiety was measured at baseline and after intervention using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. <b><i>Results:</i></b> At baseline, citrus aroma and placebo groups were similar in demographic characteristics as well as anxiety scores. After intervention, mean anxiety scores in the two groups become significantly different; the scores were 34.66 ± 9.6 and 42.36 ± 6.4 for citrus aroma and placebo groups, respectively (<i>p</i> < 0.0001). No side effect was observed. <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> According to the current findings, aromatherapy with <i>Citrus aurantium</i> L. aroma (neroli oil) may be a safe and efficient intervention and can be considered an easy and applicable method to reduce anxiety in patients with ACS.