[Use of medicinal plants in patients with symptoms of generalized anxiety]

Rev Med Inst Mex Seguro Soc. 2019 Dec 30;57(6):364-370.
[Article in Spanish]

Abstract

Background: Anxiety is one of the most common mental disorders. It has an impact on the decrease of productivity, the affectation of quality of life, and the increase in health care costs. The study of plant species with medicinal properties to treat anxiety has made significant progress, since they have been evaluated through in vitro, in vivo and clinical studies.

Objective: To identify the use of medicinal plants among patients with symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD).

Material and methods: A diagnostic questionnaire, including the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale, and another related with the use of medicinal plants, was applied. It was designed specifically for this study, and it was used in subjects and/or their companions, who visited an Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social hospital.

Results: The study had 985 subjects, 802 women, with a median age of 37.1 ± 15.17; anxiety symptoms were identified in 95.9% (940); according to the number of signs and symptoms, 53.1% (523) of subjects may have suffered a moderate or severe degree of anxiety. 23.09% (187) used medicinal plants to treat their symptoms. 39 plant species were identified as used by patients with GAD symptoms. Of these, 76.3% (29) had a history of ethnomedical use on mental disorders.

Conclusions: A high percentage of the population in Mexico presents symptoms of GAD. A significant number of patients use medicinal plants to treat the symptoms of anxiety, even when they do not know that their symptomatology is part of a mental disorder.

Introducción: la ansiedad es uno de los trastornos mentales más comunes. Incide en la pérdida de productividad, la afectación de la calidad de vida y el aumento en el gasto de la atención médica. El estudio de especies vegetales con propiedades medicinales para tratar la ansiedad ha progresado, al evaluarse con estudios in vitro, in vivo y clínicos.

Objetivo: identificar el uso de plantas medicinales en pacientes con síntomas de trastorno de ansiedad generalizada (TAG).

Material y métodos: se aplicó un cuestionario diagnóstico que incluía la Escala para ansiedad generalizada de Hamilton y otro relacionado con el uso de plantas medicinales. Se diseñó ex profeso para personas que acuden a consulta a un hospital del IMSS o sus acompañantes (si eran derechohabientes).

Resultados: participaron 985 personas, 802 mujeres, con una mediana de edad de 37.1 ± 15.17; en 95.9% (940) se identificaron síntomas de ansiedad; el 53.1% (523) de los encuestados pudo haber estado padeciendo un grado de ansiedad moderada o severa. Del total, 23.09% (187) usaban plantas medicinales para tratar sus síntomas. Se identificaron 39 especies vegetales que empleaban los pacientes con síntomas de TAG. De ellas, 76.3% (29) tenía antecedentes de uso etnomédico en trastornos mentales.

Conclusiones: un alto porcentaje de la población en México presenta síntomas de TAG. Un número importante de los pacientes usa plantas medicinales para tratar los síntomas de ansiedad, aun cuando no saben que su sintomatología es parte de un desorden mental.

Keywords: Anxiety Disorders; Patient Health Questionnaire; Plants, Medicinal; Surveys and Questionnaires.

Publication types

  • Observational Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Analysis of Variance
  • Anti-Anxiety Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Anxiety Disorders / diagnosis
  • Anxiety Disorders / drug therapy*
  • Anxiety Disorders / epidemiology
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Female
  • Health Surveys / statistics & numerical data
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mexico / epidemiology
  • Middle Aged
  • Phytotherapy / methods*
  • Phytotherapy / statistics & numerical data
  • Plants, Medicinal* / classification
  • Symptom Assessment

Substances

  • Anti-Anxiety Agents