title: Comparison of the efficacy of aroma-acupressure and aromatherapy for the treatment of dementia-associated agitation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  One of the most common symptoms observed in patients with dementia is agitation, and several non-pharmacological treatments have been used to control this symptom. However, because of limitations in research design, the benefit of non-pharmacological treatments has only been demonstrated in certain cases. The purpose of this study was to compare aroma-acupressure and aromatherapy with respect to their effects on agitation in patients with dementia.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this experimental study, the participants were randomly assigned to three groups: 56 patients were included in the aroma-acupressure group, 73 patients in the aromatherapy group, and 57 patients in the control group who received daily routine as usual without intervention. The Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory (CMAI) scale and the heart rate variability (HRV) index were used to assess differences in agitation. The CMAI was used in the pre-test, post-test and post-three-week test, and the HRV was used in the pre-test, the post-test and the post-three-week test as well as every week during the four-week interventions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The CMAI scores were significantly lower in the aroma-acupressure and aromatherapy groups compared with the control group in the post-test and post-three-week assessments. Sympathetic nervous activity was significantly lower in the fourth week in the aroma-acupressure group and in the second week in the aromatherapy group, whereas parasympathetic nervous activity increased from the second week to the fourth week in the aroma-acupressure group and in the fourth week in the aromatherapy group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Aroma-acupressure had a greater effect than aromatherapy on agitation in patients with dementia. However, agitation was improved in both of the groups, which allowed the patients with dementia to become more relaxed. Future studies should continue to assess the benefits of aroma-acupressure and aromatherapy for the treatment of agitation in dementia patients.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  ChiCTR-TRC-14004810; Date of registration: 2014/6/12.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, National Yang-Ming University, 155, Li-Nong Street Sec 2, Beitou District, Taipei, 11221, Taiwan. mhyang@ym.edu.tw.
authors.forename: Man-Hua
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical and Community Health Nursing, National Yang-Ming University, 155, Li-Nong Street Sec 2, Beitou District, Taipei, 11221, Taiwan. lichan@ym.edu.tw.
authors.forename: Li-Chan
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Institute of Health and Welfare Policy, National Yang-Ming University, 155, Li-Nong Street Sec 2, Beitou District, Taipei, 11221, Taiwan. scwu@ym.edu.tw.
authors.forename: Shiao-Chi
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Institute of Traditional Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, 155, Li-Nong Street Sec 2, Beitou District, Taipei, 11221, Taiwan. chiujh@ym.edu.tw.
authors.forename: Jen-Hwey
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Chiu
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, 155, Li-Nong Street Sec 2, Beitou District, Taipei, 11221, Taiwan. pnwang@vghtpe.gov.tw.
authors.forename: Pei-Ning
authors.initials: PN
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, 91, Hsueh-Shuh Road, Taichung, 40402, Taiwan. jglin@mail.cmu.edu.tw.
authors.forename: Jaung-Geng
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Lin
mesh_terms: D019050:Acupressure / Q000379:methods*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019341:Aromatherapy; D003704:Dementia / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011595:Psychomotor Agitation / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome