title: The Effects of Lavandula Angustifolia Mill Infusion on Depression in Patients Using Citalopram: A comparison Study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Many herbs have been used to treat psychiatric disorders including anxiety and depression in traditional medicine.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study was carried out to determine the effect of using Lavandula angustifilia infusion on depression in patients taking Citalopram.
  
  
  METHODS
  Among all patients referred to the Hajar Hospital psychiatric clinic, Shahrekord, Iran, 80 patients who met the criteria of major depression according to the structured interviews and the Hamilton questionnaire for Depression were included in the study. They were randomly assigned into two groups of experimental treatment group and standard treatment group at this study. In standard treatment group, the patients were given Citalopram 20 mg. In experimental treatment group, the patients took 2 cups of the infusion of 5 g dried Lavandula angustifilia in addition to tablet Citalopram 20 mg twice a day. The patients were followed up for four and eight weeks of the study onset using Hamilton Scale questionnaire and treatment side effects form. Data were analyzed using student t-test, pair t-test and chi square.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After four weeks of the trial onset, the mean depression score according to the Hamilton Scale for Depression was 17.5 ± 3.5 in the standard treatment group and 15.2 ± 3.6 in the experimental treatment group (P < 0.05). After eight weeks, it was 16.8±4.6 and 14.8±4 respectively (P < 0.01). In addition, the most commonly observed adverse effects were nausea (12.8 %) and confusion (10%). In terms of side effects, there were no significant differences between two groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Considering the results of this study, Lavandula angustifilia infusion has some positive therapeutic effects on depressed patients most importantly decreases mean depression score and might be used alone or as an adjunct to other anti-depressant drugs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Cellular and Molecular Research Centre, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Masoud
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nikfarjam
authors.affiliation: Herbal Research Center, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Neda
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Parvin
authors.affiliation: Iranian Physician, Toronto, Onatario, Canada.
authors.forename: Naziheh
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Assarzadegan
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine Faculty of Medicine, Memorial university of Newfoundland, Canada.
authors.forename: Shabnam
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Asghari
keywords: Citalopram; Depression; Lavandula