Efficacy of aromatherapy (Lavandula angustifolia) as an intervention for agitated behaviours in Chinese older persons with dementia: a cross-over randomized trial

Background Agitated behaviours among persons with dementia are distressing to both patients and their caregivers. As pharmacological interventions may be limited by their potentially adverse effects, the use of complementary therapies for treatment of agitation has become more popular and aromathera...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International journal of geriatric psychiatry 2007-05, Vol.22 (5), p.405-410
Main Authors: Lin, Pamela Wan-ki, Chan, Wai-chi, Ng, Bacon Fung-leung, Lam, Linda Chiu-wa
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
agitation
Alzheimer Disease - ethnology
Alzheimer Disease - psychology
Alzheimer Disease - therapy
Aromatherapy
Asian Continental Ancestry Group - psychology
Asian people
Behavior
Biological and medical sciences
Clinical outcomes
Complementary Therapies
Cross-Over Studies
Degenerative and inherited degenerative diseases of the nervous system. Leukodystrophies. Prion diseases
Dementia
Female
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Geriatric psychiatry
Geriatric psychology
Geriatrics
Helianthus
Homes for the Aged
Hong Kong
Humans
Lavandula
Male
Medical sciences
Neurology
Nursing Homes
Older people
Psychoanalysis
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychomotor Agitation - ethnology
Psychomotor Agitation - psychology
Psychomotor Agitation - therapy
Psychopathology. Psychiatry
Treatment Outcome
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Summary:Background Agitated behaviours among persons with dementia are distressing to both patients and their caregivers. As pharmacological interventions may be limited by their potentially adverse effects, the use of complementary therapies for treatment of agitation has become more popular and aromatherapy is the fastest growing one. Objectives This study investigates the effectiveness of lavandula angustifolia (lavender) in treating agitated behaviours of demented people in Hong Kong. Methods It was a cross‐over randomized trial. Seventy Chinese older adults with dementia were recruited; half were randomly assigned to the active group (lavender inhalation) for three weeks and then switched to control group (sunflower inhalation) for another three weeks; the other half did the opposite. Clinical response was evaluated using the Chinese versions of Cohen‐Mansfield Agitation Inventory (CCMAI) and Neuropsychiatric Inventory (CNPI). Results The mean CCMAI total scores decreased from 24.68 to 17.77(t = 10.79, df = 69, p 
ISSN:0885-6230
1099-1166
DOI:10.1002/gps.1688