Research Article

Lavender oil as a treatment for agitated behaviour in severe dementia: a placebo controlled study

  1. Clive Holmes*,
  2. Vivienne Hopkins,
  3. Christine Hensford,
  4. Vanessa MacLaughlin,
  5. David Wilkinson,
  6. Henry Rosenvinge

Article first published online: 11 APR 2002

DOI: 10.1002/gps.593

Issue

International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry

International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry

Volume 17, Issue 4, pages 305–308, April 2002

Additional Information

How to Cite

Holmes, C., Hopkins, V., Hensford, C., MacLaughlin, V., Wilkinson, D. and Rosenvinge, H. (2002), Lavender oil as a treatment for agitated behaviour in severe dementia: a placebo controlled study. Int. J. Geriat. Psychiatry, 17: 305–308. doi: 10.1002/gps.593

Author Information

  1. University of Southampton, School of Medicine, Community Clinical Sciences Research Division, Memory Assessment and Research Unit, Moorgreen Hospital, Southampton, UK

*University of Southampton, School of Medicine, Community Clinical Sciences Research Division, Memory Assessment and Research Unit, Moorgreen Hospital, Botley Rd, West End, Southampton, SO30 3JB, UK.

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 11 APR 2002
  2. Article first published online: 11 APR 2002
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 16 AUG 2001
  4. Manuscript Received: 22 MAY 2001

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Keywords:

  • dementia;
  • aromatherapy;
  • lavender oil;
  • behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia

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. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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