Pathological anxiety, which affects approximately one-third of the world population, is an inadequate, irrational reaction of an organism to the environment and to a potential threat. Despite ...advancements in pharmacotherapy for anxiety disorders, further studies are still necessary to search for new substances possessing the desired anxiolytic effects, with as few unwanted effects as possible.
This study intended to examine the characteristics of medicinal plant materials that exhibit anxiolytic properties, with a special emphasis on the mechanisms of action of their active ingredients on the systems involved in the pathophysiology of anxiety.
The research team performed a review of the literature, searching well-known online scientific databases, including PubMed, Google Scholar, Medline, ScienceDirect, and SpringerLink. The team searched for the newest research from various regions of the world.
The study was done in the Medical University of Silesia (Katowice, Poland).
The medicinal plant materials presented in the current article undoubtedly influence the central nervous system. Our analysis showed that their mechanism of action is very complicated and appropriately still enigmatic. Among them, V officinalis represents the most thoroughly investigated medicinal plant material that produces anxiolytic, sedative effects. However, extracts of other medicinal plants may also emerge as helpful in the treatment of fear and anxiety and in the prophylaxis of those disorders.
The current review discusses the most recent data on medicinal plant materials that are effective as anxiolytic treatments, with special emphasis on the neurobiological mechanisms of action of their active ingredients. The research team hopes that the information may open up new directions in the search for drugs capable of enhancing the existing therapy.
Although osteopathy is not yet certified as a health profession in Italy, many people choose osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) for pain relief. Nevertheless, no study evaluating patients' ...degree of satisfaction after OMT and the perceived quality of the treatment has occurred in Italy.
The study intended to assess outpatients' satisfaction with OMT carried out at a hospital.
The research team conducted a survey from January 2015 to January 2016 using 3 questionnaires.
The study took place the Fondazione Santa Lucia Hospital (Rome, Italy), an institute for research and health care.
Participants were 101 patients with musculoskeletal (MSK) disorders undergoing OMT at the hospital.
The OMT was performed by 3 osteopathic practitioners who had completed the 6-y, part-time training program recognized by the Italian Register of Osteopaths.
To measure the level of their satisfaction, the research team had patients complete the modified patient satisfaction questionnaire (mPSQ), the patient satisfaction with outpatient physical therapy (PSOPT) instrument, and the visual analog scale for satisfaction (VASS). Parametric and nonparametric analyses were performed to correlate the questionnaires and the demographic variables using the Pearson and Spearman tests.
Data were obtained from 97 patients, with mean age of 42.48 ± 16.1 y, 50 of whom were female. The data showed high, average general satisfaction after OMT: (1) VASS-9.36 ± 1.00 and (2) PSOPT-43.27 ± 3.65. A significant negative correlation was found between access to care (D1-TOT) on the mPSQ and at ages older than 65 y-r = -0.24 and P < .05. A significant positive correlation was found between the VASS and female gender-r = 0.23 and P < .05. A significant positive correlation was also found between continuity of care (D3-TOT) and continuity of care-family (D3-1) on the mPSQ and education level-r = .20 and P < .05 and r = 0.24, P < .05, respectively, and with other dimensions explored by the questionnaires.
The data show a high level of general satisfaction in patients with MSK disorders who underwent OMT in an Italian hospital setting. The overall satisfaction rate was mainly influenced by the patient's perception of the practitioner's technical quality, the continuity of the treatment, and the cost of the service. Some differences emerged for age, gender, and educational level. The information from the current study may be useful for improving the therapeutic assistance provided with OMT and to promote alternative therapies in health and medicine.
