Evidence map›Paper›PMID 24219098›Full record

Trial reportBMC complementary and alternative medicine2013

A randomized, controlled cross-over trial of dermally-applied lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) oil as a treatment of agitated behaviour in dementia.

Daniel W O'Connor, Barbara Eppingstall, John Taffe, Eva S van der Ploeg

Registry-linked trialOpen access · goldAbstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Trial report in BMC complementary and alternative medicine, 2013. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT03662360 (Elderly Patients With Dementia in the Department of Acute Geriatrics), which is not on this map. Cited by 17 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
17citing papers in PubMed, 3 pooled it
0.9field-weighted citation impact, top 30% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

NCT03662360 nacompletednot on this mapstarted 2018, after this paper: background citation

Elderly Patients With Dementia in the Department of Acute Geriatrics: Pilot Study, Monocentric, Randomized Use of Aromatherapy as a Complementary Treatment to Psychopharmacotherapy in Psychological Disorders and BPSD Behavior

TypeinterventionalSponsorClinica Luganese MoncuccoRan2018 to 2018Enrolled32ConditionsBPSD (Behavioral and Psycological Symptoms of Dementia)Armsessential oils
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

17 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 59 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Aromatherapy for dementia.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2020
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  11. CONSORT 2010 statement: extension to randomised crossover trials.BMJ (Clinical research ed.) · 2019 · on this map
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.

Daniel W O'ConnorSchool of Psychology and Psychiatry, Monash University, Kingston Centre, Warrigal Road, Cheltenham, Victoria 3192, Australia. Daniel.OConnor@monash.edu.
Barbara Eppingstall
John Taffe
Eva S van der Ploeg
Monash University · AU

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundLavender essential oil shows evidence of sedative properties in neurophysiological and animal studies but clinical trials of its effectiveness as a treatment of agitation in people with dementia have shown mixed results. Study methods have varied widely, however, making comparisons hazardous. To help remedy previous methodological shortcomings, we delivered high grade lavender oil in specified amounts to nursing home residents whose agitated behaviours were recorded objectively.

methods64 nursing home residents with frequent physically agitated behaviours were entered into a randomized, single-blind cross-over trial of dermally-applied, neurophysiologically active, high purity 30% lavender oil versus an inactive control oil. A blinded observer counted the presence or absence of target behaviours and rated participants' predominant affect during each minute for 30 minutes prior to exposure and for 60 minutes afterwards.

resultsLavender oil did not prove superior to the control oil in reducing the frequency of physically agitated behaviours or in improving participants' affect.

conclusionsStudies of essential oils are constrained by their variable formulations and uncertain pharmacokinetics and so optimal dosing and delivery regimens remain speculative. Notwithstanding this, topically delivered, high strength, pure lavender oil had no discernible effect on affect and behaviour in a well-defined clinical sample.

trial registrationAustralian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN 12609000569202).

Indexed as

AgedAged, 80 and overAnimalsAromatherapyAustraliaCross-Over StudiesDementiaFemaleHumansLavandulaMaleOils, VolatilePlant OilsPsychomotor AgitationSingle-Blind MethodTreatment Outcomelavender oilOils, VolatilePlant Oils

Identifiers

PMID24219098
PMCPMC3827620
OpenAlexW2048800171

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.