A randomised controlled trial of Lavender (Lavandula Angustifolia) and Lemon Balm (Melissa Officinalis) essential oils for the treatment of agitated behaviour in older people with and without dementia

Watson, K; Hatcher, D; Good, A

A randomised controlled trial of Lavender (Lavandula Angustifolia) and Lemon Balm (Melissa Officinalis) essential oils for the treatment of agitated behaviour in older people with and without dementia

Watson, K

Hatcher, D Good, A

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Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Complementary Therapies in Medicine, 2019, 42 pp. 366 - 373
Issue Date:: 2019-02-01

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Watson, K https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4934-582X	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Hatcher, D	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Good, A	en_US
dc.date.available	2018-12-19	en_US
dc.date.issued	2019-02-01	en_US
dc.identifier.citation	Complementary Therapies in Medicine, 2019, 42 pp. 366 - 373	en_US
dc.identifier.issn	0965-2299	en_US
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/135193
dc.description.abstract	© 2018 Objective: Lavender and Lemon Balm essential oils are popular in the management of older person agitation due to their ease of application, minimal side effects and low interaction with concurrent medications. This study addressed limitations in the literature to evaluate and compare effectiveness of Lavender and Lemon Balm essential oils on the agitated behaviour of older people with and without dementia living in residential aged care facilities [RACFs]. Methods: Forty-nine nursing home residents with dementia (n=39) and without dementia (n=10) exhibiting agitation participated in this study. Participants were randomised to a counterbalanced, repeated measures design experiment that tests the treatments Lavender, Lemon Balm, and Placebo (Sunflower oil). Treatments were administered once daily for two-weeks followed by a two-week washout period before commencing the subsequent treatment. All participants trialed all three treatments over a 10-week period. Data were collected on the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) and Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory (CMAI). Results: A significant difference was shown when essential oils effect were compared between the cognitive groups. Post hoc analysis reports Lemon Balm more effective in reducing NPI agitation (p =.04) and CMAI physical non-aggressive behaviour (PNAB) (p =.02) in residents without dementia. Lemon Balm less effective in reducing NPI irritability (p = 0.01) and Lavender more effective in reducing CMAI PNAB (p = 0.04) in dementia. Conclusion: The findings support an opposing effect of Lemon Balm and Lavender in reducing agitated behaviour between the participant cognitive groups. There was no reduction in agitation with treatments when compared to placebo independent of cognitive groups.	en_US
dc.relation.ispartof	Complementary Therapies in Medicine	en_US
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1016/j.ctim.2018.12.016	en_US
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/closedAccess
dc.subject.classification	Complementary & Alternative Medicine	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Humans	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Lavandula	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Melissa	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Dementia	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Psychomotor Agitation	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Oils, Volatile	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Plant Oils	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Plant Extracts	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Aromatherapy	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Depression	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Anxiety	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Aged	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Aged, 80 and over	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Homes for the Aged	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Nursing Homes	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Female	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Male	en_US
dc.title	A randomised controlled trial of Lavender (Lavandula Angustifolia) and Lemon Balm (Melissa Officinalis) essential oils for the treatment of agitated behaviour in older people with and without dementia	en_US
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	42	en_US
utslib.for	1104 Complementary and Alternative Medicine	en_US
utslib.for	1701 Psychology	en_US
pubs.embargo.period	Not known	en_US
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health/Nursing
utslib.copyright.status	closed_access	*
pubs.publication-status	Published	en_US
pubs.volume	42	en_US

Abstract:

© 2018 Objective: Lavender and Lemon Balm essential oils are popular in the management of older person agitation due to their ease of application, minimal side effects and low interaction with concurrent medications. This study addressed limitations in the literature to evaluate and compare effectiveness of Lavender and Lemon Balm essential oils on the agitated behaviour of older people with and without dementia living in residential aged care facilities [RACFs]. Methods: Forty-nine nursing home residents with dementia (n=39) and without dementia (n=10) exhibiting agitation participated in this study. Participants were randomised to a counterbalanced, repeated measures design experiment that tests the treatments Lavender, Lemon Balm, and Placebo (Sunflower oil). Treatments were administered once daily for two-weeks followed by a two-week washout period before commencing the subsequent treatment. All participants trialed all three treatments over a 10-week period. Data were collected on the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) and Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory (CMAI). Results: A significant difference was shown when essential oils effect were compared between the cognitive groups. Post hoc analysis reports Lemon Balm more effective in reducing NPI agitation (p =.04) and CMAI physical non-aggressive behaviour (PNAB) (p =.02) in residents without dementia. Lemon Balm less effective in reducing NPI irritability (p = 0.01) and Lavender more effective in reducing CMAI PNAB (p = 0.04) in dementia. Conclusion: The findings support an opposing effect of Lemon Balm and Lavender in reducing agitated behaviour between the participant cognitive groups. There was no reduction in agitation with treatments when compared to placebo independent of cognitive groups.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/135193