Effects of Stress-reducing Aromatherapy

Oregon Health and Science University92 enrolled

Overview

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

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.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

PREVENTION

Masking

SINGLE

Enrollment

Conditions

Stress-related Problems

Interventions

aromaOTHER

Comparison of known stress reducing aroma to placebo aromas without stress-reducing effects

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 50 YearsMax age: 85 YearsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

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

Locations (1)

Oregon Health & Science University

Portland, Oregon, United States

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Percent of Baseline Level of Salivary Cortisol

Percent of baseline level of salivary cortisol (values greater than baseline indicate increased stress)

Time frame: assessed at baseline (60 min prior to aroma exposure and stress), stress battery (30 min after aroma exposure and during stress), post-stress (60 min after completing stress battery)

Secondary Outcomes

Electroencephalography (EEG) Frontal Asymmetry

EEG frontal asymmetry (FA) is used to assess emotional state. EEG FA processing was completed by averaging local reference EEG filtered offline from 0.1 to 70 Hz (with 60 Hz notch filter). 5-min data periods during each time were segmented into 2 seconds epochs, and the semi-automatic artifact rejection was applied. The remaining artifact-free epochs were subjected to Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) . The power spectra for individual epochs were averaged, and the measures of EEG spectral density were obtained for alpha band (8 -12.99 Hz). Square root values of power were used, and frontal hemispheric asymmetry was calculated as ((L-R)/(L+R))\*100, where L and R are square root values at the homologous left and right hemisphere sites (using local average reference values at F3 and F4). With this calculation, FA negative values reflect lower alpha power (higher activation) in the left hemisphere linked to a more positive mood. This is a unit-free measure.

Time frame: assessed at baseline (60 min prior to aroma exposure and stress), at the onset of aromatherapy exposure, stress battery (30 min after aroma exposure and during stress), post-stress (60 min after completing stress battery)

Cognitive Performance: Percent Change From Baseline in Digit Span Backward Task Score

Percent change from baseline in cognitive performance score on the Digit Span Backward (DSB) task. DSB scores range from 0 to 16, with greater scores indicative of better cognitive function. Positive change from baseline indicates better functioning.

Time frame: Baseline (60 min prior to aroma exposure and stress), post-stress (60 min after completing stress battery)

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

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