USE OF PASSIFLORA INCARNATA L. IN THE TREATMENT OF GENERALIZED ANXIETY DISORDER IN HUMANS: A LITERATURE REVIEW

Abstract

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is a pathology that affects individuals on a global scale, and has increasing rates every year. People with this pathology report symptoms such as fatigue, muscle tension, palpitation and excessive sweating, which directly affects the way the individual interacts with the society around him. Given the above, this study aims to present a narrative literature review, with the aim of analyzing the use of Passiflora incarnata L. in the treatment of GAD. The portals SciELO, PubMed, Lilacs, Google Scholar, ScienceDirect and NHSA, articles published from 1993 to 2017, were used as the database. The results were obtained through five studies, which demonstrated a possible effectiveness of the Passiflora incarnata L. in individuals with GAD, since this species is able to offer anxiolytic effects through its action on the Central Nervous System. The analyzed studies showed that the species Passiflora incarnata L. demonstrated considerable efficacy in the treatment of patients with GAD.