Effects of inhalation aromatherapy on female student's anxiety and depression settling in dormitory of Tehran University of Medical Sciences

Aromatherapy, as an alternative medicine, is using of volatile oils for inducing psychological and physical well- being. In this study, the effects of inhalation aromatherapy in reducing anxiety and depression in female students of dormitory of Tehran University of Medical Sciences were investigated in 2008-2009. In this experimental study, 260 female students living in dormitory were selected and assigned randomly in 4 groups of 65 people as case and control according to two variables of anxiety and depression. The scales used in this study were Spillberger Anxiety Test and Beck Depression Inventory. At first, pre-test were taken. A mixture of essential oils of Lavender and Rose was inhaled for four weeks, half an hour for each night by the case groups (anxious and depressed). For control group, only sesame oil inhalation was used. At the end of the second week, post-test1 and at the end of fourth week, post-test2 were taken. Students who received inhalation aromatherapy had significant improvement in anxiety and depression symptoms compared with pre-test and control group (p≤0.001 for both). This study confirmed the efficacy of inhalation aromatherapy (the mixture of essential oils of Lavender and Rose) in reducing the female students’ anxiety and depression symptoms who settled in dormitory.