Efficacy of Passiflora incarnate on anxiety relief before orthopedic surgery: A double blinded clinical trial study

Anxiety is the most prevalent feeling before surgery which could affect postoperative outcomes. Anti-anxiety properties of Passiflora incarnate have been reported in previous studies and this study was designed and conducted to determine properties of medicinal plant Passiflora incarnate on anxiety before orthopedic surgery in patients hospitalized in Ayatollah Kashani Hospital, Shahrekord.
In this experimental study, 60 patients aged 25-50 years candidate for orthopedic surgery referring Ayatollah Kashani Hospital, Shahrekord were randomly assigned into two 30-individual groups of case and control. At the night before surgery, case group received oral Passiflora caerulea drop (500 mg, Passipy) and control group received placebo. On the day of surgery, by Spielberger Anxiety Inventory, the level of trait anxiety (individual anxious property) and state anxiety (individual anxious state) was recorded, and the patient's demographic characteristics were gathered by questionnaire.
There was no significant difference between two groups regarding to age, sex, and marital status. Mean score of state anxiety in case group (40.86±7.25) was lower than control group (50.63±4.58) (P=0.001), but mean score of trait anxiety was not significantly different between the two groups (P=0.303).
Based on the results of this study, use of oral drop of Passiflora incarnate before orthopedic surgery helps to relieve patient's anxiety. Use of this extract is recommended for Anti-anxiety and sedative treatments.