The comparative effect of Valeriana officinalis versus Diazepam on the state of anxiety before operation in female patients admitted in Kashani hospital

Background and aims: Valeriana officinalis is one of the most practical herbal medicines with anxiolytic and sedative properties. This study was conducted to compare herbal medicine V. officinalis and diazepam on reduction of preoperative anxiety. Methods: In this double-blinded clinical trial study, 60 female patients candidated for elective surgery were enrolled into the study. The patients were randomly divided into 3 groups including: V. officinalis (5 dl concentrated extract [Zardband Pharmaceutical Co.]), Diazepam (5 mg tablet), and Placebo. The medicines were orally administered to the patients every 2 hours before anesthesia. The data were gathered by Spielberger Anxiety Inventory (manifest anxiety) and form of individual information and vital signs including blood pressure, pulse, and respiration at 2 steps, before medicine administration and two hours after medicine administration. Collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, pair t- test, Chi- square, and ANOVA in SPSS software. Results: Mean score of manifest anxiety in the patients was 28.26±7.94 prior to treatment with V. officinalis and 16.56±7.25 after treatment, in diazepam group prior to treatment 25.56±5.44 and after treatment 22.40±5.54, and in placebo group prior to treatment 24.70±7.09 and after treatment 23.60±7.09, with a significant reduction in score of manifest anxiety in the patients in all three groups (P=0.001). The highest reduction of anxiety score was associated with V. officinalis followed by diazepam and placebo (P=0.001). Conclusion: Considering the findings of this study could be argued that V. officinalis has effect on preoperative anxiety and could be used in reducing preoperative anxiety in operating rooms.