The study protocol of a blinded randomised-controlled cross-over trial of lavender oil as a treatment of behavioural symptoms in dementia
Open accessAbstract
BACKGROUND: The agitated behaviours that accompany dementia (e.g. pacing, aggression, calling out) are stressful to both nursing home residents and their carers and are difficult to treat. Increasingly more attention is being paid to alternative interventions that are associated with fewer risks than pharmacology. Lavandula angustifolia (lavender) has been thought, for centuries, to have soothing properties, but the existing evidence is limited and shows mixed results. The aim of the current study is to test the effectiveness of topically applied pure lavender oil in reducing actual counts of challenging behaviours in nursing home residents. METHODS/DESIGN: We will use a blinded repeated measures design with random cross-over between lavender oil and placebo oil. Persons with moderate to severe dementia and associated behavioural problems living in aged care facilities will be included in the study. Consented, willing participants will be assigned in random order to lavender or placebo blocks for one week then switched to the other condition for the following week. In each week the oils will be applied on three days with at least a two-day wash out period between conditions. Trained observers will note presence of target behaviours and predominant type of affect displayed during the 30 minutes before and the 60 minutes after application of the oil. Nursing staff will apply 1 ml of 30% high strength essential lavender oil to reduce the risk of missing a true effect through under-dosing. The placebo will comprise of jojoba oil only. The oils will be identical in appearance and texture, but can easily be identified by smell. For blinding purposes, all staff involved in applying the oil or observing the resident will apply a masking cream containing a mixture of lavender and other essential oils to their upper lip. In addition, nursing staff will wear a nose clip during the few minutes it takes to massage the oil to the resident's forearms. DISCUSSION: If our results show that the use of lavender oil is effective in reducing challenging behaviours in individuals with dementia, it will potentially provide a safer intervention rather than reliance on pharmacology alone. The study's findings will translate easily to other countries and cultures. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry - ACTRN 12609000569202.
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Claims the paper makes
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Self-check
Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.
The self-check needs the paper’s full text.
Cites
Folstein, M. F., Folstein, S. E., & McHugh, P. R. (1975) · Journal of Psychiatric Research · doi:10.1016/0022-3956(75)90026-6 · Cited by 88,282 · see citing works
A New Clinical Scale for the Staging of Dementia
Hughes, C. P., Berg, L., Danziger, W., Coben, L. A., & Martin, R. L. (1982) · British Journal of Psychiatry · doi:10.1192/bjp.140.6.566 · Cited by 7,056 · see citing works
Schneider, L. S., Dagerman, K., & Insel, P. S. (2006) · The American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry · doi:10.1097/01.jgp.0000200589.01396.6d · Cited by 903 · see citing works
Agitated Behaviors in the Elderly: II. Preliminary Results in the Cognitively Deteriorated
Cohen‐Mansfield, J. (1986) · Journal of the American Geriatrics Society · doi:10.1111/j.1532-5415.1986.tb04303.x · Cited by 649 · see citing works
Cohen-Mansfield, J. (2001) · The American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry · doi:10.1097/00019442-200111000-00005 · Cited by 593 · see citing works
Observed Affect in Nursing Home Residents with Alzheimer's Disease
Lawton, M. P., Van Haitsma, K., & Klapper, J. (1996) · The Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences · doi:10.1093/geronb/51b.1.p3 · Cited by 401 · see citing works
Aromatherapy Positively Affects Mood, Eeg Patterns of Alertness and Math Computations
Diego, M., Jones, N. A., Field, T., Hernandez‐Reif, M., Schanberg, S. M., Kuhn, C., Galamaga, M., McAdam, V., & Galamaga, R. (1998) · International Journal of Neuroscience · doi:10.3109/00207459808986469 · Cited by 396 · see citing works
Fragrance Compounds and Essential Oils with Sedative Effects upon Inhalation
Buchbauer, G., Jirovetz, L., Jäger, W. R., Plank, C., & Dietrich, H. (1993) · Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences · doi:10.1002/jps.2600820623 · Cited by 369 · see citing works
Aromatherapy: Evidence for Sedative Effects of the Essential Oil of Lavender after Inhalation
Buchbauer, G., Jirovetz, L., & Jäger, W. R. (1991) · Zeitschrift für Naturforschung C · doi:10.1515/znc-1991-11-1223 · Cited by 342 · see citing works
Lees, G., & Leach, M. J. (1993) · Brain Research · doi:10.1016/0006-8993(93)91660-k · Cited by 252 · see citing works
Effects of linalool on glutamatergic system in the rat cerebral cortex
Elisabetsky, E., Marschner, J., & Souza, D. O. (1995) · Neurochemical Research · doi:10.1007/bf00973103 · Cited by 243 · see citing works
O'Connor, D. W., Ames, D., Gardner, B., & King, M. (2009) · International Psychogeriatrics · doi:10.1017/s1041610208007588 · Cited by 239 · see citing works
Self-citationLavender oil as a treatment for agitated behaviour in severe dementia: a placebo controlled study
Holmes, C., Hopkins, V., Hensford, C., MacLaughlin, V., Wilkinson, D., & Rosenvinge, H. (2002) · International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry · doi:10.1002/gps.593 · Cited by 202 · see citing works
Lin, P. W., Chan, W., Ng, B. F., & Lam, L. C. (2007) · International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry · doi:10.1002/gps.1688 · Cited by 185 · see citing works
Garland, K., Beer, E., Eppingstall, B., & O'Connor, D. W. (2007) · The American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry · doi:10.1097/01.jgp.0000249388.37080.b4 · Cited by 157 · see citing works
Self-citationPercutaneous absorption of lavender oil from a massage oil
Jäger, W. R., Buchbauer, G., Jirovetz, L., & Fritzer, M. (1992) · Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Chemists · Cited by 151 · see citing works
A Controlled Trial of Aromatherapy for Agitation in Nursing Home Patients with Dementia
Snow, L. A., Hovanec, L., & Brandt, J. (2004) · The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine · doi:10.1089/1075553041323696 · Cited by 117 · see citing works
Aromatherapy and behaviour disturbances in dementia: a randomized controlled trial
Smallwood, J., Brown, R., Coulter, F., Irvine, E., & Copland, C. (2001) · International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry · doi:10.1002/gps.473 · Cited by 115 · see citing works
Brooker, D. J. R., Snape, M., Johnson, E. A., Ward, D. S., & Payne, M. (1997) · British Journal of Clinical Psychology · doi:10.1111/j.2044-8260.1997.tb01415.x · Cited by 102 · see citing works
Replacement of drug treatment for insomnia by ambient odour
Hardy, M. A., Kirk‐Smith, M. D., & Stretch, D. D. (1995) · The Lancet · doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(95)92310-1 · Cited by 97 · see citing works
Schneider, G., Driesch, G., Kruse, A., Nehen, H.-G., & Heuft, G. (2006) · American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry · doi:10.1097/01.jgp.0000233784.04532.a5 · Cited by 96 · see citing works
Opie, J., Doyle, C., & O’Connor, D. (2002) · International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry · doi:10.1002/gps.493 · Cited by 72 · see citing works
Self-citationHall, K. A., Keks, N. A., & O’Connor, D. (2005) · International Psychogeriatrics · doi:10.1017/s1041610205001535 · Cited by 65 · see citing works
Self-citationGray, S., & Clair, A. A. (2002) · American Journal of Alzheimer s Disease & Other Dementias® · doi:10.1177/153331750201700305 · Cited by 56 · see citing works
Lees, G., Stöhr, T., & Errington, A. C. (2005) · Neuropharmacology · doi:10.1016/j.neuropharm.2005.08.016 · Cited by 43 · see citing works
Lees, G., Edwards, M. D., Hassoni, A. A., Ganellin, C. R., & Galanakis, D. (1998) · British Journal of Pharmacology · doi:10.1038/sj.bjp.0701918 · Cited by 43 · see citing works
Greve, M., & O’Connor, D. (2005) · International Psychogeriatrics · doi:10.1017/s1041610205001481 · Cited by 35 · see citing works
Self-citationRunci, S. J., Redman, J. R., & O’Connor, D. (2005) · International Psychogeriatrics · doi:10.1017/s1041610205002309 · Cited by 31 · see citing works
Self-citationCARBAMAZEPINE USE IN AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOUR ASSOCIATED WITH SENILE DEMENTIA
Cooney, C., Mortimer, A. M., SMITH, A., Newton, K. J., & Wrigley, M. (1996) · International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry · doi:10.1002/(sici)1099-1166(199610)11:10 · Cited by 27 · see citing works
Runci, S. J., O’Connor, D., & Redman, J. R. (2005) · Australasian Journal on Ageing · doi:10.1111/j.1741-6612.2005.00106.x · Cited by 26 · see citing works
Self-citationLanguage-relevant interventions for verbally disruptive behaviors in dementia
Runci, S. J., Redman, J. R., & O’Connor, D. (2006) · International Psychogeriatrics · doi:10.1017/s1041610206263476 · Cited by 5 · see citing works
Self-citation
Flagged first, then by citations
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Oliveira, A. M. D., Radanovic, M., Mello, P. C. H. D., Buchain, P. C., Vizzotto, A. D. B., Celestino, D. L., Stella, F., Piersol, C. V., & Forlenza, O. V. (2015) · BioMed Research International · doi:10.1155/2015/218980 · Cited by 247 · see citing works
“The largest effect size was found when the treatments were tailored to participants’ interests and skills [30].”
Effects of aromatherapy on sleep quality and anxiety of patients
Karadağ, E., Samancioglu, S., Özden, D., & Bakır, E. (2015) · Nursing in Critical Care · doi:10.1111/nicc.12198 · Cited by 251 · see citing works
Livingston, G., Kelly, L., Lewis-Holmes, E., Baio, G., Stephen Morris, A., Patel, N. V., Omar, R., Katona, C., & Cooper, C. (2014) · Health Technology Assessment · doi:10.3310/hta18390 · Cited by 244 · see citing works
Thorgrimsen, L., Maayan, N., Orrell, M. W., Spector, A. E., Buchan, L. D., & Soares‐Weiser, K. (2014) · Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews · doi:10.1002/14651858.cd003150.pub2 · Cited by 127 · see citing works
Ball, E. L., Owen-Booth, B., Gray, A., Shenkin, S. D., Hewitt, J., & McCleery, J. M. (2020) · Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews · doi:10.1002/14651858.cd003150.pub3 · Cited by 80 · see citing works
Rodríguez-Mansilla, J., González López-Arza, M. V., Varela-Donoso, E., Montanero-Fernández, J., González Sánchez, B., & Garrido-Ardila, E. M. (2015) · Clinical Rehabilitation · doi:10.1177/0269215514554240 · Cited by 68 · see citing works
de Oliveira, A. M., Radanovic, M., Homem de Mello, P. C., Buchain, P. C., Dias Vizzotto, A., Harder, J., Stella, F., Piersol, C. V., Gitlin, L. N., & Forlenza, O. V. (2019) · International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry · doi:10.1002/gps.4958 · Cited by 67 · see citing works
O’Connor, D., Eppingstall, B. J., Taffe, J. R., & van der Ploeg, E. S. (2013) · BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine · doi:10.1186/1472-6882-13-315 · Cited by 60 · see citing works
Self-citationHashemi, S. H., Hajbagheri, A., & Aghajani, M. (2015) · Nursing and Midwifery Studies · doi:10.17795/nmsjournal29617 · Cited by 54 · see citing works
Kozuharova, E. K., Simeonov, V., Batovska, D. I., Stoycheva, C., Valchev, H., & Benbassat, N. (2023) · Pharmacia · doi:10.3897/pharmacia.70.e104404 · Cited by 44 · see citing works
Effect of intensive olfactory training for cognitive function in patients with dementia
Cha, H.-G., Kim, S., Kim, H., Kim, G., & Kwon, K. (2021) · Geriatrics and gerontology international/Geriatrics & gerontology international · doi:10.1111/ggi.14287 · Cited by 34 · see citing works
Hawken, P. A. R., Fiol, C., & Blache, D. (2011) · Physiology & Behavior · doi:10.1016/j.physbeh.2011.12.005 · Cited by 32 · see citing works
Evaluation of central nervous system effects of Citrus limon essential oil in mice
Campêlo, L. M. L., de Lima, S. G., Feitosa, C. M., & de Freitas, R. M. (2011) · Revista Brasileira de Farmacognosia · doi:10.1590/s0102-695x2011005000086 · Cited by 21 · see citing works
Yılmaz, C. K., & Aşiret, G. D. (2020) · Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry and Neurology · doi:10.1177/0891988720933353 · Cited by 19 · see citing works
de Oliveira, A. M., Radanovic, M., de Mello, P. C. H., Buchain, P. C., Vizzotto, A. D. B., Harder, J., Stella, F., Gitlin, L. N., Piersol, C. V., Valiengo, L. D. C. L., et al. (2021) · Journal of Alzheimer s Disease · doi:10.3233/jad-210142 · Cited by 14 · see citing works
Aromaterapi Uygulamaları ve Uçucu Yağlar
Kurt, N. C., & Çankaya, İ. İ. T. (2021) · Mersin Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Lokman Hekim Tıp Tarihi ve Folklorik Tıp Dergisi · doi:10.31020/mutftd.882997 · Cited by 14 · see citing works
Bogdan, M. A., BUNGAU, S. G., Ţiţ, D. M., Copolovici, L. O., Behl, T., Otřísal, P., Aleya, L., Cioca, G., Berescu, D., Uivaroșan, D., et al. (2020) · Revista de Chimie · doi:10.37358/rc.20.7.8249 · Cited by 13 · see citing works
Lim, T. K. (2014) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-94-017-8748-2_8 · Cited by 5 · see citing works
Zhang, S., Chen, B., Zhong, X., Zhang, M., Wang, Q., Wu, Z., Hou, L., Zhou, H., Chen, X., Liu, M., et al. (2022) · Frontiers in Psychiatry · doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2022.839012 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
THE EFFECT OF AROMATHERAPY MASSAGE ON OLDER PEOPLE’S SLEEP QUALITY AND SLEEPINESS
Akgün, M., Muberra, O. Z., & Uymaz, P. (2021) · ASEAN Journal of Psychiatry · doi:10.54615/2231-7805.47232 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
Bénéfices de l’aromathérapie olfactive en unité d’hébergement renforcée
Bilien, C., Depas, N., Delaporte, G., & Baptiste, N. (2016) · Soins Gérontologie · doi:10.1016/j.sger.2016.03.008 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Effect of Lavandula Essence on Premenstrual Syndrome
Kialashaki, A., Fatemeh, S., Tofighi, M., Zafari, M., & Zarenegad, N. (2012) · Majallah-i dānishgāh-i ̒ulūm-i pizishkī-i Māzandarān/Journal of Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Wolf, T., Schneider, J., & Koch, S. (2023) · Annals of Pharmacy Practice and Pharmacotherapy · doi:10.51847/9e9h4jvcnm · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Aromaterapi Uygulamasının Demanslı Bireylerde Görülen Davranışsal Değişiklikler Üzerine Etkisi
Şentürk, S. G., & Küçükgüçlü, Ö. (2015) · Cited by 1 · see citing works
EFEITOS DA AROMATERAPIA NO SISTEMA COGNITIVO NA DOENÇA DE ALZHEIMER: UMA REVISÃO INTEGRATIVA
Cruz, A. M. L., Monteiro, B. T. S., LINS, L. D. S. P., Pereira, H. N., & da Silva, J. G. (2022) · Editora Omnis Scietia eBooks · doi:10.47094/978-65-5854-677-1/88-102
Laarhoven, T. R. V., Blood, E., Johnson, J. W., Baker, S., Burgin, X. D., Brooks, L. A., Cornell, V., Ward, G., & Keeney, M. (2025) · International Journal of Developmental Disabilities · doi:10.1080/20473869.2025.2544165
- Authors
- van der Ploeg, E. S., Eppingstall, B., & O'Connor, D. W.
- Affiliations
- Kingston Centre (AU)
- Venue
- BMC Geriatrics
- Published
- 2010-07-22
- Volume
- 10
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 49-49
- ISSN
- 1471-2318 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC2916001
- OpenAlex
- W2159399399
- Cited by
- 26
- References
- 30
- Citations by year
- 2025: 1 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 3 · 2018: 1 · 2016: 1 · 2015: 4 · 2014: 4 · 2013: 1 · 2012: 1
- FWCI
- 0.87
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- BMC Geriatrics (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- Dementia Collaborative Research Centres, Australia
- Medical Research Council
- National Health and Medical Research Council
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Dementia and Cognitive Impairment Research
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Complementary and alternative medicine › Medicinal Plant Extracts Effects
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Geriatric Care and Nursing Homes
- Keywords
- lavender essential oil, Lavandula angustifolia, dementia, behavioral problems, agitation, nursing home residents, essential oils, non-pharmacological treatment, placebo-controlled, crossover trial, jojoba oil
- MeSH terms
- Administration, Topical, Animals, Behavioral Symptoms, Dementia, Humans, Oils, Volatile, Plant Oils, Single-Blind Method, Treatment Outcome, Cross-Over Studies, Lavandula, Rats
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review
