The effect of licorice on depression of nurses

Abstract

Introduction: Nurses are at risk of depression due to the nature of their work environment. This study was conducted to determine the effect of Licorice on depressive symptoms in nurses, regarding the importance of the role of nurses in the health care system. Methods: This study is a triple blind placebo controlled clinical trial, in that initially, 72 eligible persons working in internal & surgical wards of teaching hospitals of Arak, were selected using convenience sampling. After obtaining written consent from them, they were put randomly in one of the intervention and control groups. Subjects of the intervention group received 380mg D-reglis tablets and subjects in the control group received placebo which looks like D-reglis (3 tablets for 4 weeks). After intervention, subjects again completed the Beck Depression Inventory and data were analyzed using paired t-test, independent T-test and Chi-square tests. Results: The mean depression score of nurses in the experimental group before taking the drug was 19.22±7.686 that changed to 13.10±7.757after the intervention. Also the mean of this index in the control group was 20.5±7.507 before the intervention and 19.72±7.456after the intervention. There was significant difference between the mean of depression in the intervention group before and after the intervention (p=.001). In the control group, there was not any significant difference (p=.079). Furthermore, there was a significant difference between the mean score of depression in intervention and control groups after the intervention (p=.001). Conclusion: According to the results, it seems that this drug can be used to reduce the depressive symptoms.