for agitated behavior in severe dementia: a placebo controlled study.                                                                                            Holmes C, Hopkins V, Hensford C, MacLaughlin V, Wilkinson D, Rosenvinge H, International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry. 2002;17:305-308

Lavender essential oil may help agitation in severe dementia. Between 18 and 65% of people with dementia exhibit agitated behavior. Pharmacological treatment using neuroleptics is often the first line of treatment; however, the neuroleptics have only modest efficacy and produce adverse side effects. Animal and human studies have shown that Lavender (Lavendula angustifolia) essential oil, which is used in aromatherapy as a relaxant, has sedative qualities upon inhalation. The authors hypothesize that inhaled essential lavender oil would have a beneficial effect on agitated behavior in patients with severe dementia.

Fifteen patients, (mean age 63 years) with severe dementia and agitated behavior, participated in this placebo controlled study. The communal area of a long-stay unit was diffused with either standard concentration of essential lavender oil (2%) or water (placebo) on alternate days. The area was diffused via three aroma-streams for 2 hours. During the final hour, a blinded (using nose calipers) rater, unaware of the study design, assessed the individual behavior of the patients. Five treatments and five placebo periods were carried out for each patient over two-weeks.

During aromatherapy, nine patients (60%) showed improvement, five (33%) showed no change, and one patient (7%) showed a worsening of agitated behavior compared to placebo. This was the first placebo-controlled study of essential lavender oil in agitated dementia patients. Even though the patient number is small, lavender essential oil in an aromatherapy stream may be a non-invasive, beneficial method for treating agitated behavior in patients with severe dementia. Since one patient worsened following aromatherapy, a group setting may not be the best way to administer treatment.

This study focused on patients with severe dementia. Lavender essential oil aromatherapy may benefit patients with mild to moderate dementia as well. A larger study exploring different modes of administration and different degrees of dementia is needed.