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DOI: 10.1055/s-0038-1640926
Interval, inspiration-triggered nocturnal odorant application by a novel device: a patient-blinded, randomised crossover, pilot trial on mood and sleep quality of depressed female inpatients
It has been suggested that certain odorants positively affect mood, but this has not yet been scientifically tested in humans. The aim of the current study was to demonstrate the feasibility of a new odorant applicator and to assess the effects of nocturnal intermittent lavender odorant application on mood, and quality of sleep and dreams in depressed female inpatients.
We hypothesised that mood as primary outcome will improve. Thirty normosmic, female, depressed inpatients were investigated in a randomised, placebo-controlled, crossover study. Exclusion criteria were rhinitis, hyp- or anosmia. During sleep, an interval-controlled, inspiration-triggered applicator added lavender oil to the inspirated air. There were three consecutive nights of each odorant and placebo application and a wash-out phase.
Results:
This novel odorant applicator was well tolerated. Application of the odorant showed no significant mood differences between lavender and placebo. A longer application phase is planned to obtain convincing evidence for our hypothesis.
Publication History
Publication Date:
18 April 2018 (online)
© 2018. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial-License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commercial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
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