Planta Med 2019; 85(18): 1559
DOI: 10.1055/s-0039-3400124
Main Congress Poster
Poster Session 2
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Effects of lavender oil on insomnia in patients with anxiety disorders – a meta-analysis

H-P Volz
1   Hospital for Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatic Medicine Schloss Werneck,, Balthasar-Neumann-Platz 1, Werneck, Germany
,
S Klement
2   Dr. Willmar Schwabe GmbH & Co. KG,, Willmar-Schwabe-Straße 4, Karlsruhe, Germany
,
S Kasper
3   Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna,, Währinger Gürtel 18-20, Vienna, Austria
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
20 December 2019 (online)

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The efficacy of lavender oil in patients with anxiety disorders has been shown in several clinical trials [1]. Anxious patients often suffer from short sleep duration and poor sleep quality as a consequence of their anxiety disorder.

The effects of lavender oil on the Hamilton-Anxiety-Scale (HAMA) item 4 ‘insomnia’ were investigated systematically in a pooled dataset.

A meta-analysis of five clinical trials was performed to describe subsequent effects of lavender oil on sleep in patients with anxiety.

We examined the accompanying symptoms regarding sleep based on item 4 ‘insomnia’ of the HAMA after ten weeks of treatment. The HAMA total score was the main outcome variable of all trials. Within the single trials the change between baseline and the last value under treatment was analyzed using a model of covariance analysis with treatment as a factor and the baseline value of the outcome variable as covariate. A random effects meta-analysis was performed to combine the results of the single trials.

The ratings of 1172 patients were included in the analysis. In the pooled dataset a mean baseline value of 2.7 points (moderate to severe) for insomnia was rated in the lavender oil group and in the placebo group. A statistically meaningful difference of 0.32 points in favor of lavender oil was calculated in the meta-analysis (p = 0.0038).

Treatment with lavender oil resulted in a relevant improvement of sleep symptoms in the context of anxiety disorders in addition to the proven efficacy on the core symptoms of anxiety.

 

  • References

  • 1 Kasper S, Müller WE, Volz HP, Möller HJ, Koch E, Dienel A. Silexan in anxiety disorders: clinical data and pharmacological background. World J Biol Psychiatry 2018; 19 (06) : 412-420
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