title: Fragrance administration to reduce anxiety during MR imaging.
abstract: Fifty-seven outpatients received either heliotropin (a vanillalike scent) with humidified air (n = 20) or humidified air alone (n = 37) via a nasal cannula during magnetic resonance imaging in the diagnostic workup for cancer. Delivery of heliotropin and air was determined by a computer-controlled schedule. Fragrance administration resulted in a statistically significant reduction in average overall patient-rated anxiety (on a visual analog scale) during imaging in patients who found the fragrance moderately to extremely pleasant. Administration of fragrance was associated with 63% less anxiety than administration of humidified air alone. Physiologic measures (pulse and heart rate) did not show a statistically significant effect with fragrance administration.
authors.affiliation: Psychiatry Service, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10021.
authors.forename: W H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Redd
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Manne
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Peters
authors.forename: P B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Jacobsen
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Schmidt
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001007:Anxiety / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D001290:Attitude; D001547:Benzaldehydes / Q000008:administration & dosage; D052117:Benzodioxoles; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D006813:Humidity; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D009812:Odorants; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D001547:Benzaldehydes; D052117:Benzodioxoles; C005454:piperonal