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The Effectiveness of Aromatherapy for Depressive Symptoms: A Systematic Review
Joint Authors
Tsang, Hector W. H.
Sánchez-Vidaña, Dalinda Isabel
He, Wanjia
Chow, Jason Ka-Wing
Lau, Benson Wui-Man
Ngai, Shirley P. C.
Source
Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Issue
Vol. 2017, Issue 2017 (31 Dec. 2017), pp.1-21, 21 p.
Publisher
Hindawi Publishing Corporation
Publication Date
2017-01-04
Country of Publication
Egypt
No. of Pages
21
Main Subjects
Abstract EN
Background.
Depression is one of the greatest health concerns affecting 350 million people globally.
Aromatherapy is a popular CAM intervention chosen by people with depression.
Due to the growing popularity of aromatherapy for alleviating depressive symptoms, in-depth evaluation of the evidence-based clinical efficacy of aromatherapy is urgently needed.
Purpose.
This systematic review aims to provide an analysis of the clinical evidence on the efficacy of aromatherapy for depressive symptoms on any type of patients.
Methods.
A systematic database search was carried out using predefined search terms in 5 databases: AMED, CINHAL, CCRCT, MEDLINE, and PsycINFO.
Outcome measures included scales measuring depressive symptoms levels.
Results.
Twelve randomized controlled trials were included and two administration methods for the aromatherapy intervention including inhaled aromatherapy (5 studies) and massage aromatherapy (7 studies) were identified.
Seven studies showed improvement in depressive symptoms.
Limitations.
The quality of half of the studies included is low, and the administration protocols among the studies varied considerably.
Different assessment tools were also employed among the studies.
Conclusions.
Aromatherapy showed potential to be used as an effective therapeutic option for the relief of depressive symptoms in a wide variety of subjects.
Particularly, aromatherapy massage showed to have more beneficial effects than inhalation aromatherapy.
American Psychological Association (APA)
Sánchez-Vidaña, Dalinda Isabel& Ngai, Shirley P. C.& He, Wanjia& Chow, Jason Ka-Wing& Lau, Benson Wui-Man& Tsang, Hector W. H.. 2017. The Effectiveness of Aromatherapy for Depressive Symptoms: A Systematic Review. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine،Vol. 2017, no. 2017, pp.1-21.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-1154143
Modern Language Association (MLA)
Sánchez-Vidaña, Dalinda Isabel…[et al.]. The Effectiveness of Aromatherapy for Depressive Symptoms: A Systematic Review. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine No. 2017 (2017), pp.1-21.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-1154143
American Medical Association (AMA)
Sánchez-Vidaña, Dalinda Isabel& Ngai, Shirley P. C.& He, Wanjia& Chow, Jason Ka-Wing& Lau, Benson Wui-Man& Tsang, Hector W. H.. The Effectiveness of Aromatherapy for Depressive Symptoms: A Systematic Review. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2017. Vol. 2017, no. 2017, pp.1-21.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-1154143
Data Type
Journal Articles
Language
English
Notes
Includes bibliographical references
Record ID
BIM-1154143