Holmes C, Hopkins V, Hensford C, MacLaughlin V, Wilkinson D, Rosenvinge H
International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 2002
ABSTRACT:
OBJECTIVE:
To determine whether aromatherapy with lavender oil is effective in the treatment of agitated behaviour in patients with severe dementia.
DESIGN:
A placebo controlled trial with blinded observer rater.
SETTING:
A long-stay psychogeriatric ward.
PATIENTS:
Fifteen patients meeting ICD-10 diagnostic criteria for severe dementia and suffering from agitated behaviour defined as a minimum score of three points on the Pittsburgh Agitation Scale (PAS).
INTERVENTION:
A 2% lavender oil aromatherapy stream was administered on the ward for a two hour period alternated with placebo (water) every other day for a total of ten treatment sessions.
ASSESSMENTS:
For each subject 10 total PAS scores were obtained. Five during treatment and five during placebo periods.
RESULTS:
Nine patients (60%) showed an improvement, five (33%) showed no change and one patient (7%) showed a worsening of agitated behaviour during aromatherapy compared with placebo. A comparison of the group median PAS scores during aromatherapy showed a significant improvement in agitated behaviour during aromatherapy compared with placebo (median PAS scores 3 c.f. 4; Wilcoxon Signed-Ranks test p = 0.016 (one-tailed)).
CONCLUSIONS:
Lavender oil administered in an aroma stream shows modest efficacy in the treatment of agitated behaviour in patients with severe dementia.
CITATION:
Holmes C, Hopkins V, Hensford C, Et Al. Lavender oil as a treatment for agitated behaviour in severe dementia: a placebo controlled study. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2002;17(4):305-308.
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