The effect of orange peel essential oil on postpartum depression and anxiety : a randomized controlled clinical trial

Abstract EN

Background: Mothers are vulnerable to mental disorders, such as depression and anxiety, in the 6-week postpartum period after delivery.

Objectives: This study was performed to determine the potential effect of orange peel essential oil on postpartum depression and anxiety.

Patients and Methods: This double-blind randomized controlled clinical trial consisted of 96 postpartum women.

Qualified samples were assigned to intervention and control groups using randomized blocking.

The intervention group drank a glass of water containing 10 drops of orange peel essential oil, and the control group drank a glass a water containing 10 drops of placebo, 3 times a day, after each meal for 8 weeks.

The subjects completed depression and anxiety questionnaires before and after the intervention.

A general linear model was used to analyze the data.

Results: There was no statistically significant difference between the groups in terms of sociodemographic characteristics and depression and anxiety scores before and after the intervention (P > 0.05).

At the end of the 8th week, the mean depression score (standard deviation [SD]) was 6.7 (4.7) in the orange peel essential oil group and 6.7 (4.9) in the placebo group (P = 0.956).

The mean state anxiety score was 47.6 (3.8) in the orange peel essential oil group and 48.4 (4.1) in the placebo group (P = 0.197).

The mean trait anxiety score was 45.6 (3.5) in the orange peel essential oil group and 45.9 (3.8) in the placebo group (P = 0.726).

Conclusions: Orange peel essential oil did not reduce postpartum depression and anxiety.