Effects of Stress-reducing Aromatherapy

Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU)

Status and phase: Completed; Phase 3; Phase 2

Conditions: Stress-related Problems

Treatments: Other: aroma

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT01307748

IRB#00006890

Details and patient eligibility

About

The study purpose is to evaluate efficacy of stress-reducing aromatherapy and learn about how aromatherapy works.

Full description

The study purpose is to evaluate efficacy of stress-reducing aromatherapy and learn about how aromatherapy works by comparing participants' physiologic responses to laboratory challenge tasks with and without experiencing aromatherapy.

Enrollment: 92 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 50 to 85 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• in good physical and cognitive health
• reporting moderate level of stress
• able to perceive aromas
• able to understand and follow study instructions

Exclusion criteria

• taking medications affecting central nervous system (CNS) function or physiologic measures (e.g. steroids or neuroleptics)
• reporting smell sensitivities or allergies
• smoking presently or in the past less than one year prior to enrollment

Trial design

Primary purpose: Prevention

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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92 participants in 3 patient groups, including a placebo group

stress reducing aroma

Experimental group

Description:

aroma with reported stress reducing effects

Treatment:

Other: aroma

Placebo aroma 1

Placebo Comparator group

Treatment:

Other: aroma

Placebo aroma 2

Placebo Comparator group

Treatment:

Other: aroma