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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.
... Positive and negative emotions not only transfer between indi-Innovative Sensing CHI 2017, May 6-11, 2017, Denver, CO, USA viduals through mimicry of vision and hearing but also through smell [11,32,12]. Other studies show that stress and anxiety can be reduced with the use of essential oils [36,29]. Recent findings found that a single night of olfactory aversive conditioning during sleep, significantly reduced cigarette-smoking behavior in the wakefulness state and persisted for several days [5]. ...
... Studies have already shown that stress and anxiety can be reduced with the use of essential oils. Researchers administrated Heliotropin (a vanilla fragrance) to patients undergoing cancer treatment [36]. The results reported that the administration of fragrance was associated with 63% less anxiety versus placebo effect. ...
... The type of scents used were tea tree, peppermint and rose. The smell selection was based on previous studies that examined how "positive" fragrances induce feelings of relaxation, reduced anxiety and alertness [29,36,39]. ...
The sense of smell is perhaps the most pervasive of all senses, but it is also one of the least understood and least exploited in HCI. We present Essence, the first olfactory computational necklace that can be remotely controlled through a smartphone and can vary the intensity and frequency of the released scent based on biometric or contextual data. This paper discusses the role of smell in designing pervasive systems that affect one's mood and cognitive performance while being asleep or awake. We present a set of applications for this type of technology as well as the implementation of the olfactory display and the supporting software. We also discuss the results of an initial test of the prototype that show the robustness and usability of Essence while wearing it for long periods of time in multiple environments.
... For question 2 this is understandable, as it is difficult to blind the patient to the interventions received in this review, and only 1 study met this criteria, which assessed fragrance delivered via nasal cannula, with one group receiving a fragrance and the other humidified air only. 30 In question 5, outcomes were deemed to have been measured with objective criteria if they were not self-reported or able to be influenced by the researcher. As many studies used the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) or other scales to measure anxiety, these were deemed to be subjective, as they are self-reported. ...
... Out of the 29 studies addressing interventions for use during MRI, only one study 30 specifically looked at the impact of fragrance administration in terms of anxiety for patients undergoing MRI imaging. A narrative summary is below. ...
... Redd et al (1994) 30 performed a randomised controlled trial in the USA comparing fragrance administration via a nasal cannula compared to humidified air via a nasal cannula for adult patients undergoing MRI, to determine whether or not it had an effect on distress and anxiety during imaging. ...
Background:
Advanced, high technology medical imaging, such as Computed Tomography (CT), Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Positron Emission Tomography (PET) and Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT), have seen significant increases in their use. A number of interventions have been developed with the aim of reducing anxiety, fear and claustrophobia prior to and during imaging.
Objective:
To determine the effectiveness of interventions aiming to improve the patient experience of high technology medical imaging.
Inclusion criteria:
Any patients who have undergone high technology (MRI, CT, PET, Nuclear medicine and SPECT) imaging in a medical imaging department. Interventional scans were not considered for inclusion.Considered interventions were: MRI scanner designs, quieter machines, information, psychological support, anxiety reduction protocols, mock MRI, team training, prone scanning, audiovisual (AV) systems, cognitive behavioural therapies, fragrance administration, guided imagery, patient positioning devices and paediatric preparation booklets.Experimental and observational studies were included in the review.Primary patient outcomes:Secondary patient outcome measures included: SEARCH STRATEGY: A comprehensive, three-step search strategy conducted during August to October 2011 aimed to find both published and unpublished English language studies across 14 major databases. No time restrictions.
Methodological quality:
Retrieved papers were assessed by two independent reviewers prior to inclusion in the review using standardised critical appraisal instruments from the Joanna Briggs Institute Meta Analysis of Statistics Assessment and Review Instrument (JBI-MAStARI).
Data collection:
Data was extracted from papers included in the review using the standardised data extraction tool from JBI-MAStARI.
Data synthesis:
Quantitative data was, where possible pooled in statistical meta-analysis using JBI-MAStARI. All results were subject to double data entry.
Results:
Thirty-eight studies met the inclusion criteria and were considered to be of suitable methodological quality. The quality of the studies varied; however, all the studies included had at a minimum a comparison group. Of the final 38 studies, 29 assessed interventions for MRI, 8 Nuclear Medicine procedures, and one in CT. Meta-analysis was performed for two interventions; additional information and an AV system.Significantly fewer children (10-18 years) required sedation prior to a MRI scan when given an audiovisual intervention (n=1785) OR 0.42% (CI 0.25 - 0.70), compared with the control group. Open MRI, newer MRI scanners, quieter machines, information in combination with psychological support or an anxiety reduction protocol, mock MRI, team training, prone scanning, AV systems, cognitive behavioural therapies, fragrance administration, guided imagery, patient positioning devices and paediatric preparation booklets were all found to have some positive effect on at least one outcome, whilst the findings for additional information were mixed.
Conclusions:
This review identified 38 studies that assessed interventions to reduce anxiety, claustrophobia, sedation and non-completions and improve satisfaction for patients undergoing medical imaging. The majority of the interventions studied had some positive effect on at least one outcome.Healthcare professionals need to be aware of the potential for patients undergoing medical imaging to experience anxiety, fear and claustrophobia during scanning. A number of interventions can be selected and tailored to the patient group.There is still a significant amount of research required to establish the effectiveness for a number of interventions aimed to reduce anxiety, fear and claustrophobia in medical imaging, particularly in CT.
... No adverse reaction was observed. In the early days of MRI up to 20% of patients did not complete the examination due to claustrophobic reactions (11). According to Quirk et al. anxiety is associated with the dimension of the bore, the duration of the examination, the noise, and the temperature within the bore (13,14). ...
... The authors discuss cognitive distraction as a possible mechanism. The fragrance may elicit reactions (thoughts, images, or emotions), which are incompatible with anxiety (11,35). Some of the written comments in our study support this hypothesis. ...
... In a study by Reed et al. the benefit was only present in patients who found the fragrance pleasant. Physiologic response to the physical properties of the fragrance was expected but not evident (11). To increase the likelihood that patients find the fragrance pleasant we decided to evaluate a commercial composition which is used in elevators and tanning beds, conditions similar to a MR scanner, including jasmine, melon, violet flower, and rosewood. ...
Abstract Background: Psychological distress for patients undergoing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may range from mild anxiety to serious panic attacks. Scents associated with a sense of wellbeing have been used to diminish psychological stress in various clinical conditions. Purpose: To evaluate the influence of inhalation aromatherapy in the reduction of artifacts in patients undergoing MRI. Material and Methods: Based on the assumption aromatherapy will lead to significant reduction of patient-related motion artifacts (PRMA) in MRI, a randomized controlled trial with two groups of 54 patients was enrolled. The primary endpoint was the number of sequences with PRMAs. Secondary outcomes were improvements of mood measured with the ASTS questionnaire as well as patient’s recommendation to fellow patients tested by a visual analogue scale. Incidence and intensity of adverse events were documented. Results: Ninety-five patients were included in the statistical analysis. We were not able to detect a significant reduction of PRMAs. There were also no significant differences in mood or in relation to the feeling before and after examination. The only differences that neared significance were “positive mood” and “recommendation”. No adverse reaction was observed. Conclusion: Although aromatherapy has been effective in enhancing patient’s mood or wellbeing in a variety of stressful clinical settings, we were not able to find a similar effect. Neither the primary nor the secondary endpoints reached a clinical meaningful magnitude. Keywords: MRI, patient tolerance, anxiety, scent, controlled trial
Raumaromatisierung zur Verbesserung der Patiententoleranz gegenüber MRT-Untersuchungen. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/273625449_Raumaromatisierung_zur_Verbesserung_der_Patiententoleranz_gegenber_MRT-Untersuchungen?fulltextDialog=true [accessed Mar 23, 2015].
... The aromatherapy effects have been studied during surgery, 40 renal dialysis, 41 and magnetic resonance imaging. 42 It was determined that it significantly reduced the anxiety level in patients with anxiety disorders. However, aromatherapy has not shown promising results in reducing anxiety during cancer therapy 43 or endoscopy. ...
... As suggested by Lehrner et al 30 for future studies, in addition to the questionnaire (as an inclusion criterion), we also included the physiologic measurements for assessing the anxiety levels. Moreover, in previous studies, 17,22,42 patients underwent different dental procedures that resulted in different baseline levels of anxiety. However, we only focused on 1 dental procedure, tooth extraction, which has been responsible for the greatest level 45 or 1 of the greatest levels 46 of anxiety among dental procedures. ...
... The previous studies did not determine the anxiolytic effect of the odor when the patient was seated in the dental chair. 17,22,42 However, we considered this an important factor, because many stressful situations can occur during dental procedures. ...
Purpose: To investigate whether ambient orange fragrance, compared with no fragrance, can reduce
patient anxiety before and during surgical removal of an impacted mandibular third molar.
Materials and Methods: In the present randomized clinical trial, the patients who required extraction
of an impacted mandibular third molar and fulfilled the predetermined criteria were included. A dental
anxiety scale (DAS) questionnaire was used to determine the anxiety level of the patients before surgery.
Only patients with moderate and high anxiety levels (DAS scale$ 9 to#14) were included. The predictor
variable was fragrance exposure. The fragrance group was exposed to orange fragrance, and the control
group was exposed to no fragrance. The outcome variables were physiologic measures related to anxiety,
including the mean blood pressure, respiratory rate, and pulse rate. The physiologic vital changes were
determined before and during the surgical procedure. The data were analyzed using the independent
t test, c2 test, and Mann-Whitney U test (Statistical Package for Social Sciences, version 16; a = 0.05).
Results: A total of 56 patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria (fragrance group, 19 males and 9 females;
no-fragrance group, 12 males and 16 females). Before entering the waiting room, the patients’ vital signs
were recorded twice. No significant differences were found between the 2 groups. The mean blood pressure,
pulse rate, and respiratory rate were significantly lower in the fragrance group during surgery (from
sitting in the dental chair to the end of surgery; P < .05).
Conclusions: The results of our study have shown that orange fragrance is effective in reducing the
anxiety related to surgical removal of an impacted mandibular third molar.
... For question 2 this is understandable, as it is difficult to blind the patient to the interventions received, and only one study met this criterion; it assessed fragrance delivered via nasal cannula, with one group receiving a fragrance and the other humidified air only. 38 In question 5, outcomes were deemed to have been measured with objective criteria if they were not self-reported or able to be influenced by the researcher. As many studies used the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) or other scales to measure anxiety, these were deemed to be subjective, as they are self-reported. ...
... Redd et al. 38 performed a randomised controlled trial in the USA for adult patients undergoing MRI, comparing fragrance administration via a nasal cannula with humidified air via a nasal cannula to determine whether or not it had an effect on distress and anxiety during imaging. The results of the trial suggest that olfactory stimuli can reduce anxiety for patients undergoing MRI imaging. ...
... However, they noted that these measures were put in place to ensure a controlled study design, and that in the non-experimental setting, simpler methods could be employed. 38 Limitations of the review There are some potential limitations with this review. Although a thorough systematic search was conducted across multiple databases targeting both published and unpublished literature, it is possible that some articles may have been missed. ...
Adults undergoing MRI scans can experience anxiety, claustrophobia and fear during the scanning experience and, in some cases, require sedation. The aim of this systematic review was to determine what strategies are effective in reducing fear, anxiety and claustrophobia, and the need for sedation in adults undergoing MRI.
A quantitative systematic review, according to the methodology of the Joanna Briggs Institute, was carried out. A systematic search of a number of databases was performed. Studies were then screened and critically appraised by two independent reviewers before being included in the review.
In total, 21 studies met the inclusion criteria for the review, which assessed the following interventions: MRI design features, cognitive-behavioural strategies, prone positioning, information, fragrance administration and team training. All of these had some positive impact on outcomes.
Healthcare professionals working with adults undergoing MRI may consider some of the strategies included in this review to implement in their practice to reduce anxiety and increase patient comfort while reducing the need for sedation.
... Koku duyu uyarılmasının yanı sıra hafızayı da hatırlanmasında kısacası bellekte önemli bir yere sahiptir. Hoş kokulu bitkiler kan basıncını düşürür, kullanıcıyı rahatlatır, sakinleştirir (Redd, Anne, Peters, Jacobsen, & Schmidt, 1994) Aromatik ve tıbbi bitkilerin şifa bahçelerinin gündeme gelmesiyle birlikte geçmişte var olan ancak günümüzde unutulmuş değerleri tekra kullanıcısına hizmet eden kamusal yeşil alanların tıbbi ve aromatik bitkilerce zengin olması gereklidir. Bunun yanı sıra bu bitkilerin tanıtılması ve kullanıcıların bu konuda bilinçlendiril Yapılan bu çalışmanın amacı Karadeniz Teknik Üniversitesi Kanuni Kampüs Yerleşkesi kullanıcısının şifa bahçelerinden beklentilerini sorgulamak ve kampüs içerinde en uygun şifa bahçeleri yerini tespit etmektir. ...
... Koku hafızası, mekanın algılanmasında, hatırlanmasında kısacası bellekte önemli bir yere sahiptir. Hoş kokulu bitkiler kan basıncını düşürür, (Redd, Anne, Peters, Jacobsen, & Schmidt, 1994). Aromatik ve tıbbi bitkilerin şifa bahçelerinin gündeme gelmesiyle birlikte geçmişte var olan ancak günümüzde unutulmuş değerleri tekrar hatırlanmaya başlanmıştır. ...
... Lorig and Schwartz 61 demonstrated reduced anxiety in college students under resting conditions with specific fragrances. 62 Redd et al applied this idea to patients undergoing MRI, administering heliotropin, which they reported to be a faint, sweet, vanilla-like scent, via nasal cannula. They reported decreased anxiety compared to patients receiving humidified air only and postulated that this is likely due to physiologic effects of the fragrance and distraction caused by associative reactions to it. ...
... They reported decreased anxiety compared to patients receiving humidified air only and postulated that this is likely due to physiologic effects of the fragrance and distraction caused by associative reactions to it. 62 Similar to their experience with bird noises, Stanley et al 50 demonstrated a subjective improvement in patient experience without an objective decrease in patient movement when there was a scented cotton pad placed near the scanner for sensory stimulation. ...
For many patients, numerous unpleasant features of the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) experience such as scan duration, auditory noise, spatial confinement, and motion restrictions can lead to premature termination or low diagnostic quality of imaging studies. This article discusses practical, patient-oriented considerations that are helpful for radiologists contemplating ways to improve the MRI experience for patients. Patient friendly scanner properties are discussed, with an emphasis on literature findings of effectiveness in mitigating patient claustrophobia, other anxiety, or motion and on reducing scan incompletion rates or need for sedation. As shorter scanning protocols designed to answer specific diagnostic questions may be more practical and tolerable to the patient than a full-length standard-of-care examination, a few select protocol adjustments potentially useful for specific clinical settings are discussed. In addition, adjunctive devices such as audiovisual or other sensory aides that can be useful distractive approaches to reduce patient discomfort are considered. These modifications to the MRI scanning process not only allow for a more pleasant experience for patients, but they may also increase patient compliance and decrease patient movement to allow more efficient acquisition of diagnostic-quality images.
... Side effects are allergic reactions against some of the oils in case of direct contact, which have not been reported so far for inhalative therapy (Redd et al. 1994;Hardy et al. 1995;Teuscher 1997;Dayawansa et al. 2003;Dingermann et al. 2004;Jung-Hee et al. 2010;Mezzacappa et al. 2010). ...
... The number of participants necessary for each group was estimated based on data of former studies using physiologic parameters in other settings (Redd et al. 1994;Dayawansa et al. 2003;Jung-Hee et al. 2010;Mezzacappa et al. 2010). We planned to include 10 healthy probands and 30 palliative patients (15 in each group). ...
Objective:
The aim of this pilot study is to analyze the reactions of healthy test persons and conscious as well as unconscious palliative patients to aroma stimuli.
Patients and methods:
In a randomized controlled study, healthy probands, conscious and unconscious palliative patients were exposed to two essential oils (lemon, lavender). Water was used as the control stimulus. Physiological parameters (breathing rate and heart rate, oxygen saturation, systolic, diastolic and mean arterial pressure) were measured.
Results:
10 test persons (control group), 15 conscious patients and 5 unconscious palliative patients were exposed to the stimuli. Healthy test persons reacted to lemon oil with a significant increase in respiration rate, heart rate and diastolic blood pressure, whereas to lavender oil with a significant decrease in respiration rate was measured. There were no significant reactions concerning the other parameters. Conscious and unconscious patients reacted with a significant increase in all measured parameters to lemon oil and with a significant decrease in all parameters except for oxygen saturation to lavender oil. No significant differences in the reactions were measured between the conscious and unconscious patients and no significant reactions to control stimuli were detected. All physiological reactions were very short and only detectable during stimulus presentation.
Conclusion:
Significant physiological reactions were measured after simulation with aroma oils in all three groups in this study. Healthy probands showed different reactions than palliative patients irrespective to their conscious state.
... Furthermore, it is believed that pleasant aromas/ smells will improve blood pressure, slower breathing rate, and low rates of pain sensitivity. Some literature interpreted scent as slightly to highly minimized patient distress throughout neuroimaging (Redd, Manne, Peters, Jacobsen, & Schmidt, 1994). ...
The relationship between interior space qualities and well-being is being understood as consequential and reciprocal. On the one hand, the place has been demonstrated to have a strong psychological and physiological effect; on the other hand, feelings and human experience play a significant role in what individuals perceive to be efficient design. However, such research on well-being is predominately concerned with the health and work environments, and partial to more general features such as accessibility, comfort, or positive distraction. This thesis aims to bring well-being and spirituality to the foreground, including the spiritual relation with physical space into the discussion, and produce a framework for design thinking that includes a broad list of concerns, qualities, principles and approaches relevant to the construction of appropriate spatial identity and atmosphere. Hence, the focus is on the framework for meditation interiors, recreation, and spiritual experience where these qualities are desired. The main research questions of this study are; which features, elements, or qualities of interior space may be most effective in experience with respect to well-being and spirituality? What may be the physical features or qualities of interior architecture or space for healing and well-being? This study has a qualitative methodology. To extend understanding of the qualities that underlie the healing potential of interior architecture or space, it surveys relevant theoretical sources for clues on the concept of well-being and spirituality in correlation with the experience of space/place. Furthermore, in order to obtain the principal features of spatial identity and atmosphere for spirituality, along with design tools and principles contributing towards it, the study surveys architectural theoretical sources and conducts a brief overview of traditional meditation or religious interior spaces. Finally, it focuses on the spatial analysis of contemporary meditation interiors chosen from selected practice examples of the world. This thesis does not address the full scope and possibilities that architectural space may present for the experience of well-being or spirituality. However, it offers inception – an initial and broad list of concerns, qualities, principles, design approaches, and criteria that address the constitution of spatial identity and atmosphere for spirituality. In this respect, it is a pilot study for frameworks and is open to further refinement. Nevertheless, research on such potentials of space do have broader significance and implementation in places like spas, elderly homes, schools, and other public and private institutions.
Keywords: Meditation Interiors, Spiritual Practices, Space Quality, Healing, Well-Being, Interior Space
... 6,7,17e20 Patients may experience anxiety while undergoing MRI examination due to 1) the requirement to remain immobile for lengthy periods ("Please do not move", is the instruction given), 2) bodily restraint (e.g., fixed with a belt), 3) obstructed view (confined in a narrow space and inability to see the surroundings), 4) physical isolation, 7,19 5) peculiar and loud scanner noises, 17,19,20 6) the lack of sufficient information provided before the examination, 18 and 7) concerns regarding the examination result. 7 Various methods have been used to reduce MRI anxiety, such as the use of anxiolytics and prism glasses, presentation of information, and effective communication, 17 presentation of information with relaxation exercises, 21 as well as the use of information booklets, 16,22 music, 23 vanilla-like fragrance, 24 hypnosis, 25 and virtual reality simulation. 26 Furthermore, the presence of a relative or friend of the patient in the examination room is a longestablished practice to reduce MRI anxiety. ...
Introduction:
Many patients experience anxiety, not limited to claustrophobia, before magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examination. We performed a non-randomized controlled trial to evaluate whether a patient-friendly audiovisual (AV) system in the MR scanner room reduces patient anxiety.
Methods:
We randomly selected 61 participants from outpatients who required brain MRI examination. Patients were informed that they could choose to undergo an MRI examination with a patient-friendly AV system (Ambient Experience, Philips Healthcare, Best, The Netherlands) or the standard system. To complete the MRI examination without affecting clinical practice, all patients who preferred the patient-friendly AV system were assigned to the preferring AV group. Patients who indicated that either system was acceptable were randomly assigned to the no preference but allocated AV group or control (using the standard system) groups. In both groups, state anxiety using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) was assessed before and after the MRI examination (A-State-before and A-State-after MRI, respectively). The changes in A-State-before and A-State-after MRI were categorized as follows: relieved high-state anxiety, no change in high-state anxiety, stable easiness, and intensified anxiety.
Results:
Among the 61 included patients, 19 were assigned to the preferring AV group, 20 to the no preference but allocated AV group, and 22 to the control group. There were no significant differences between the group. However, in patients with high-state anxiety before MRI, the preferring AV group and the no preference but allocated AV group, which used the patient-friendly AV system, relieved high-state anxiety by 63.6% (7 of 11 patients) and 81.8% (9 of 11 patients), respectively. In contrast, the control group using the standard system relieved high-level anxiety by only 42.9% (three out of seven patients).
Conclusion:
The patient-friendly AV system may reduce anxiety in patients undergoing MRI examinations.
Implications for practice:
The patient-friendly AV system may reduce anxiety in patients undergoing MRI examination by providing a more patient-centered MRI examination environment. These findings may help ameliorate negative perceptions associated with MRI examination.
... 6,7,17e20 Patients may experience anxiety while undergoing MRI examination due to 1) the requirement to remain immobile for lengthy periods ("Please do not move", is the instruction given), 2) bodily restraint (e.g., fixed with a belt), 3) obstructed view (confined in a narrow space and inability to see the surroundings), 4) physical isolation, 7,19 5) peculiar and loud scanner noises, 17,19,20 6) the lack of sufficient information provided before the examination, 18 and 7) concerns regarding the examination result. 7 Various methods have been used to reduce MRI anxiety, such as the use of anxiolytics and prism glasses, presentation of information, and effective communication, 17 presentation of information with relaxation exercises, 21 as well as the use of information booklets, 16,22 music, 23 vanilla-like fragrance, 24 hypnosis, 25 and virtual reality simulation. 26 Furthermore, the presence of a relative or friend of the patient in the examination room is a longestablished practice to reduce MRI anxiety. ...
Linked article: This Correspondence comments on Moro et al. Click here to view the article.
... However, Yücel (2013) stated that fragrance feature is closely related to memories and senses and fragrance stimulates memories instantaneously, helps those with memory loss and is especially important for visually impaired patients. Similarly, Redd et al. (1994) stated that fragrance, especially pleasant aromas may reduce blood pressure, slow breathing and reduce pain severity and anxiety. In addition, monumental trees such as Platanus orientalis, which are found in many of the hospital gardens, are important for their long lives and for taking people to the past and thus helping them to remember their memories. ...
Hospital gardens are one of the most important connection points between health and nature. The creation of visually effective plant compositions in hospital gardens is also important in terms of relaxing users and providing socialization. In this study, observation, data collection and evaluation methods were followed. In the scope of the study, a total of 26 hospital gardens Bursa (Osmangazi, Yıldırım, and Nilüfer) including state and
private hospitals in the central districts of Bursa were evaluated. The plant diversity in hospital gardens were examined and form, texture, color and odor characteristics, autumn color effects, sensory effects of the identified taxa, and how they were used in hospital gardens were evaluated. It has been determined that the hospital gardens had a rich plant diversity with 95 woody plant taxa, and 47.37% of the identified plants were natural and 52.63% were exotic species and the gardens were insufficient in terms of planting design. In the hospital gardens, green colors, which gave a sense of tranquility and confidence, were determined to be dominant (81.05%). State hospitals were found to be more successful in terms of plant diversity than private hospitals. In the design of hospital gardens, blue, pink and yellow plant species that make people feel a sense of eternity, desire of living, vitality and love should be included.
... Over the years, researchers have also investigated the use of fragrance to help reduce stress during other anxiety-inducing medical procedures (e.g., Graham et al., 2003;Braden et al., 2009;Redd et al., 2009;Kritsidima et al., 2010;Ghiasi et al., 2019). There is also a growing body of research to suggest that 'sweet-smelling' ambient scents can help people deal a little better with pain (e.g., Prescott and Wilkie, 2007; though see also Marchand and Arsenault, 2002;Martin, 2006). 2 Researchers have also demonstrated how the pleasantness of interpersonal touch can be modulated by the presence of either a pleasant or disgusting ambient scent (e.g., Croy et al., 2015Croy et al., , 2016. ...
The majority of the world’s population now lives an urban existence, spending as much as 95% of their lives indoors. The olfactory atmosphere in the built environment has been shown to exert a profound, if often unrecognized, influence over our mood and well-being. While the traditionally malodorous stench to be found indoors (i.e., prior to the invention of modern sanitation) has largely been eliminated in recent centuries, many of the outbreaks of sick-building syndrome that have been reported over the last half century have been linked to the presence of a strange smell in the environment. At the same time, however, there is also growing evidence that consumer behavior can be manipulated by the presence of pleasant ambient odors, while various aromatherapy scents are said to improve our mood and well-being. This Anglophone review focuses primarily on indoor western urban developed spaces. Importantly, the olfactory ambience constitutes but one component of the multisensory atmosphere and ambient odors interact with the visual, auditory, and haptic aspects of the built environment. Surprisingly, the majority of published studies that have deliberately chosen to combine ambient scent with other sensory interventions, such as, for example, music, have failed to increase store sales, or to enhance people’s mood and/or well-being, as might have been expected. Such negative findings therefore stress the importance of considering multisensory congruency while, at the same time, also highlighting the potential dangers that may be associated with sensory overload when thinking about the effect of ambient smell on our well-being.
... Immersive experiences exploring low-cost commercial biofeedback devices have been also been presented, although methodology has not been fully disseminated. Redd et al. (1994) found that cancer patients during Magnetic Resonance Imaging responded with a 63% decrease in anxiety with heliotropin (a vanillalike scent) with humidified air when compared to a odorless humidified air alone. Expanding upon this work, Amores et al. (2018) utilized a low-cost commercial EEG device, a brain-sensing headband named Muse 2 (InteraXon, 2019), with an olfactory necklace and immersive virtual reality for promoting relaxation. ...
Physical rehabilitation is often an intensive process that presents many challenges, including a lack of engagement, accessibility, and personalization. Immersive media systems enhanced with physical and emotional intelligence can address these challenges. This review paper links immersive virtual reality with the concepts of therapy, human behavior, and biofeedback to provide a high-level overview of health applications with a particular emphasis on physical rehabilitation. We examine each of these crucial areas by reviewing some of the most influential published case studies and theories while also considering their limitations. Lastly, we bridge our review by proposing a theoretical framework for future systems that utilizes various synergies between each of these fields.
... Smoking cessation Arzi et al., 2014 Olfaction perception in sleep Carskadon and Herz, 2004Memory Diekelmann and Born, 2010Learning Stickgold, 2012 Learning Arzi et al., 2012 Clerical tasks associated with administration Barker et al., 2003 Alertness and math computations Diego et al., 1998 Anxiety reduction Redd et al., 1994 Severity of labor pain Yazdkhasti and Pirak, 2016 Pain tolerance Prescott andWilkie, 2007 (Cohen et al., 2017). The presumed mechanism for this in EEG is that attention increases evoked response magnitude and this in turn increases ISC (Ki et al., 2016;Poulsen et al., 2017). ...
Odors can be powerful stimulants. It is well-established that odors provide strong cues for recall of locations, people and events. The effects of specific scents on other cognitive functions are less well-established. We hypothesized that scents with different odor qualities will have a different effect on attention. To assess attention, we used Inter-Subject Correlation of the EEG because this metric is strongly modulated by attentional engagement with natural audiovisual stimuli. We predicted that scents known to be “energizing” would increase Inter-Subject Correlation during watching of videos as compared to “calming” scents. In a first experiment, we confirmed this for eucalyptol and linalool while participants watched animated autobiographical narratives. The result was replicated in a second experiment, but did not generalize to limonene, also considered an “energizing” odorant. In a third, double-blind experiment, we tested a battery of scents including single molecules, as well as mixtures, as participants watched various short video clips. We found a varying effect of odor on Inter-Subject Correlation across the various scents. This study provides a basis for reliably and reproducibly assessing effects of odors on brain activity. Future research is needed to further explore the effect of scent-based up-modulation in engagement on learning and memory performance. Educators, product developers and fragrance brands might also benefit from such objective neurophysiological measures.
... One group examined olfactory stimulation via delivery of a vanilla-like fragrance by nasal cannula during MRI and found significant reduction in patient-rated anxiety in comparison to humidified air alone. 31 One study evaluated sensory stimulation during MRI using olfactory and auditory stimuli intended to have a calmative effect and reported a trend toward improved subjective patient experience scores, albeit without significant change in patient movement during MRI. 32 ...
Patients undergoing MRI may experience fear, claustrophobia, or other anxiety manifestations due to the typically lengthy, spatially constrictive, and noisy MRI acquisition process and in some cases are not able to tolerate completion of the study. This article discusses several patient-centered aspects of radiology practice that emphasize interpersonal interactions. Patient education and prescan communication represent 1 way to increase patients' awareness of what to expect during MRI and therefore mitigate anticipatory anxiety. Some patient interaction strategies to promote relaxation or calming effects are also discussed. Staff teamwork and staff training in communication and interpersonal skills are also described, along with literature evidence of effectiveness with respect to patient satisfaction and productivity endpoints. Attention to how radiologists, nurses, technologists, and other members of the radiology team interact with patients before or during the MRI scan could improve patients' motivation and ability to cooperate with the MRI scanning process as well as their subjective perceptions of the quality of their care. The topics discussed in this article are relevant not only to MRI operations but also to other clinical settings in which patient anxiety or motion represent impediments to optimal workflow.
... However, Yücel (2013) stated that fragrance feature is closely related to memories and senses and fragrance stimulates memories instantaneously, helps those with memory loss and is especially important for visually impaired patients. Similarly, Redd et al. (1994) stated that fragrance, especially pleasant aromas may reduce blood pressure, slow breathing and reduce pain severity and anxiety. In addition, monumental trees such as Platanus orientalis, which are found in many of the hospital gardens, are important for their long lives and for taking people to the past and thus helping them to remember their memories. ...
... Previous work has demonstrated that odor-evoked memories produce stronger emotional arousal than events triggered by other sensory modalities [15], [16], [17]. Researchers administered Heliotropin (a vanilla fragrance) to patients undergoing cancer treatment and were able to show a decrease in anxiety by 63 % compared to a placebo [18]. Diego et al. examined the effects of aromatherapy on users' mental states. ...
The ability to relax is sometimes challenging to achieve, nevertheless it is extremely important for mental and physical health, particularly to effectively manage stress and anxiety. We propose a virtual reality experience that integrates a wearable, low-cost EEG headband and an olfactory necklace that passively promotes relaxation. The physiological response was measured from the EEG signal. Relaxation scores were computed from EEG frequency bands associated with a relaxed mental state using an entropy-based signal processing approach. The subjective perception of relaxation was determined using a questionnaire. A user study involving 12 subjects showed that the subjective perception of relaxation increased by 26.1 % when using a VR headset with the olfactory necklace, compared to not being exposed to any stimulus. Similarly, the physiological response also increased by 25.0 %. The presented work is the first Virtual Reality Therapy system that uses scent in a wearable manner and proves its effectiveness to increase relaxation in everyday life situations.
... Moreover, the literature shows that using audio-visual systems reduces patient motion and leads to a quality diagnostic MRI without the use of sedation 29 . Other authors confirm this thesis in their study on auditory and olfactory stimulation during MRI scanning 30,31 . Sensory stimulation in the form of calming bird noises played over headphones and a scented cotton pad placed in the scanner near the patients' heads has improved the overall subjective experience of MRI in the patients. ...
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) patients often experience anxiety-related respiratory disorders, including hyperventilation, but their respiratory indicators are not routinely monitored during scanning. Free from metal parts and immune to electromagnetic radiation, fibre-optic sensors have the potential to better control the patient’s condition by providing continuous non-invasive monitoring of the respiratory rate (RR). The study was purposed to assess the relationship between anxiety in MRI patients and their RR acquired by a fibre-optic sensor system. Forty-four subjects were involved in the study. The mean RR values recorded for 2 minutes immediately after the beginning and immediately before the end of the scanning were assessed relative to the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) X-1 scores obtained immediately before and immediately after the scanning, respectively. A growth mixture model analysis was performed to statistically differentiate two groups of subjects according to the trends in repeated measures of RR. A significant lowering of the anxiety state was observed in the group characterised by a decrease in RR, whereas essentially no change in anxiety level was observed in the group with a stable RR. The t-test showed significant differences in changes in anxiety between these groups (t(39) = −2.349, p = 0.012, Cohen’s d = 2.13).
... The use of plants that are effective in every season increases the olfactory effect. The presence of pleasant fragrances in the space could have a positive effect on the health of an individual by reducing the blood pressure and slowing the respiration ( Redd et al., 1994), as well as creating a good memory. Several plant taxa with high fragrance potential are used in landscape architecture. ...
With increasing population, migration of individuals to urban areas to sustain their lives led to general problems such as urban sprawl and unqualified living conditions, as well as several environmental and health problems due to alienation from the nature. However, as a solution to the problems created by the stressful and rapid urban life, individuals started to prefer green spaces to spend their leisure time. Previous studies reported that green reduces the intense stress in human life, socializes individuals, activates individuals’ senses and makes them environmentally aware and responsible individuals (Marcus, 2001, Bowers, 2003, Sakici and Var, 2013).
... The use of plants that are effective in every season increases the olfactory effect. The presence of pleasant fragrances in the space could have a positive effect on the health of an individual by reducing the blood pressure and slowing the respiration ( Redd et al., 1994), as well as creating a good memory. Several plant taxa with high fragrance potential are used in landscape architecture. ...
... Previous work has demonstrated that odor-evoked memories produce stronger emotional arousal than events triggered by other sensory modalities [15], [16], [17]. Researchers administered Heliotropin (a vanilla fragrance) to patients undergoing cancer treatment and were able to show a decrease in anxiety by 63 % compared to a placebo [18]. Diego et al. examined the effects of aromatherapy on users' mental states. ...
... Piperonal has aromatherapeutic qualities that might elevate mood and well-being. Patients who were undergoing an MRI in an environment scented with heliotropin demonstrated a 63 % reduction in anxiety compared with those who were not exposed to fragrance (Redd et al., 1994). ...
The main purpose of this scientific Opinion is to assist the Commission in identifying the additives that should be put on the priority list as foreseen by Article 6 of the TobaccoProducts Directive 2014/40/EU (TPD).
The SCENIHR was asked to identify those additives, amongst the most commonly used additives by weight or number, that have one or more of the following attributes:
a. Contributes to the toxicity or addictiveness of the products and/or increases the toxicity or addictiveness of any of the products concerned to a significant or measurable degree;
b. Results in a characterising flavour;
c. Facilitates inhalation or nicotine uptake;
d. Leads to the formation of substances that have CMR (carcinogenic, mutagenic, repro-toxic) properties and/or increases the CMR properties in any of the products concerned (cigarettes/Roll-your-own) to a measurable or significant degree.
To compile the list of priority substances, the SCENIHR considered inter alia several lists of additives from the European Union Member States and used the list from the Netherlands (containing 1260 compounds) as a typical example. The selection from that list was carried out following these steps:
1) Additives were ranked according to the frequency of detection in different brands as well as the highest amount used in cigarettes, which were considered the first two criteria for selection; this reduced the number of chemicals to be evaluated to approximately100 compounds.
2) An initial scan was carried out, considering the categories above (see also Article 6(2 a-d) in the TPD) and focussing on those present in tobacco and papers, and resulted in a preliminary selection of 56 additives for which a literature search for data on general characteristics of the compounds, toxicity data (including CMR properties), information about characterising flavour (potentially contributing to attractiveness), inhalation
facilitation or increase in nicotine uptake (potentially contributing to addictiveness) as well as for data on pyrolysis products and their toxicity.
This method made it possible to identify a number of priority substances based on their hazard profile; therefore, a full risk assessment was not carried out.
After the selection of 56 additives based on the aforementioned criteria, the SCENIHR noticed that the list also includes compounds previously evaluated within the EU project “Public Information Tobacco Control” (PITOC), which were selected independently.
A data sheet was prepared for each chemical containing the most relevant, aforementioned information. At the end of the data sheet, a paragraph describes the criteria for inclusion in the priority list.
The information about the toxicological profile is often quite scant, and when available, data are generally limited to the oral route of exposure, especially for flavouring substances that are used by food industries or very rarely to the dermal route (when used in the cosmetic products). Data about inhalation toxicity are negligible, as well as data on kinetic behaviour, making inadequate any route-to-route extrapolation.
Additives used in tobacco products
Another common feature for most of the additives is the scarcity of information on the exposure to additives, including exposures resulting from the combustion reactions’ products. Data on pyrolysis of most of the individual additives are limited. For most tobacco additives, direct information about their possible contribution to addictiveness and attractiveness does not exist, although information can be derived from the mode of action of the additive. Scant or no information was available on possible mixture toxicity; also due to lack of knowledge about all the components of the mixture and their levels, only a qualitative estimation of possible additive effects due to chemicals with the same effect could be made.
The list of priority substances consists of 30 entries corresponding to chemicals/groups of chemicals for a total of 48 single chemicals selected for the priority list. These selected compounds show one or more properties characterised in the 4 impact categories.
To summarise:
• 17 substances were selected because they fall/are suspected to fall in the category: toxic in unburnt form, among which 6 are suspected of CMR potential.
• 14 substances were selected because they are suspected of facilitating inhalation or increasing nicotine uptake (mechanism possibly contributing to addictiveness to smoking).
• 19 substances were selected because they show a characterising flavour, one of the factors potentially contributing to attractiveness.
• 20 substances were selected because they are known or suspected of forming irritant, toxic and/or CMR chemicals after combustion.
It was concluded that the 6 substances, for which the CMR potential could not be ruled out would, be the first priority on the priority list, because according to the Tobacco Products Directive 2014/40/EU, Article 7 foresees the prohibition of using additives that have CMR properties in unburnt form. Other possible criteria to further prioritise within the list of 30 priority substances/groups were considered, such as the possibility of contributing to more than one of the aforementioned categories and the possibility of forming CMR compounds after combustion.
... [25] It can be found in some essential oils, vanilla and camphor, [25][26][27] and has been shown to have antibacterial [28] and anxiolytic effects. [29] Moreover, some piperonal derivatives show a potential anticancer effect, [30,31] antileishmanial activity, [32] and other pharmacological effects. [33] ...
The enzymatic reduction of carboxylic acids is in its infancy with only a handful of biocatalysts available to this end. We have increased the spectrum of carboxylate-reducing enzymes (CARs) with the sequence of a fungal CAR from Neurospora crassa OR74A (NcCAR). NcCAR was efficiently expressed in E. coli using an autoinduction protocol at low temperature. It was purified and characterized in vitro, revealing a broad substrate acceptance, a pH optimum at pH 5.5–6.0, a Tm of 45 °C and inhibition by the co-product pyrophosphate which can be alleviated by the addition of pyrophosphatase. The synthetic utility of NcCAR was demonstrated in a whole-cell biotransformation using the Escherichia coli K-12 MG1655 RARE strain in order to suppress overreduction to undesired alcohol. The fragrance compound piperonal was prepared from piperonylic acid (30 mM) on gram scale in 92 % isolated yield in >98% purity. This corresponds to a productivity of 1.5 g/L/h.
... Schweitzer et al. (2004) fann i sin litteraturgenomgång inga studier där man direkt hade länkat patienternas hälsa med tillgången till god inomhusluft. Inverkan av illaluktande och väldoftande luft har dock diskuterats och det finns forskning som indikerar att dofter som upplevs som ganska eller mycket goda minskar patienters ängslan (Redd et al., 1994). ...
... Once again, the VAS was used to measure anxiety. This approach has been found to be a reliable and valid approach to measuring anxiety [50] and other studies assessing anxiety in medical imaging have also followed this approach [54][55][56][57][58]. ...
Purpose The way patients experience health care is largely dependent on the attitudes and actions of the health care professionals they encounter. In medical imaging, the radiographer is often the biggest provider of patient care. Patients undergoing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can experience anxiety and claustrophobia. The aim of this study was to determine current levels of anxiety and satisfaction within an MRI unit. Methods An action research study was conducted in an MRI unit in a large metropolitan hospital. The focus of this study was on improving patient care within the department. The initial phase of this study focused on determining current levels of anxiety and satisfaction within the department. To achieve this, a survey was conducted of patients attending the department for imaging. Results Surveys were returned from 120 patients. Overall, the mean anxiety was 2.617 on a 10-point scale (0 = no anxiety, 10 = maximum anxiety; 95% confidence interval, 2.075-3.159; standard deviation, 3). Overall, the mean satisfaction was 8.86 (95% confidence interval, 8.459-9.254; standard deviation, 2.15). There was a statistically significant difference between anxiety for patients who received information and those who did not (information = 2.29, no information = 4.0, P =.045). Conclusions Although the vast majority of patients are satisfied with the care they receive during MRI, anxiety is still an issue. The provision of information has been linked to lower levels of anxiety with these patients. The findings from this survey provide insight as to how patients perceive the MRI department and can be used as a benchmark for future surveys to determine if any changes can be made to further improve satisfaction and anxiety during MRI.
... The clinician should therefore be alerted if a patient's history points in this direction. Furthermore, as essential oils are increasingly used for inhalation in pursuit of psychological effects, immediate-type contact reactions may be observed, as reported recently (49)(50)(51)(52). ...
In order to find sensitizers additional to the current fragrance mix (FM) a series of fragrance materials (series II) was evaluated in 6 dermatological centres in Europe. 11 of the test materials were essential oils, the remaining 7 being either mixtures of isomers or simple chemicals of frequent usage in the perfume industry. 1606 patients were consecutively tested with series II and 8% FM. Each patient was classified regarding a history of adverse reactions to scented products: certain, probable, questionable, none. Reactions to FM occurred most frequently in 11.4% of the subjects. The 6 materials with the highest reactivity after the FM were ylang-ylang oil (YY) I (2.6%), YY II (2.5%), lemongrass oil (1.6%), narcissus absolute (1.3%), jasmine absolute (1.2%) and sandalwood oil (0.9%). 48 (3.0%) of the patients reacted only to materials of series II and not to FM. 6.0% of 1606 patients gave a history of adverse reactions to fragrances which was classified as certain. This group reacted to FM only in 22.9%, to series II and FM in 15.6% and to series II only in 5.2%. 63.5% of the patients reacting to both FM and 1 of the materials of series II had some type of positive fragrance history, which was higher in comparison to those with isolated reactions to FM (46.2% of 121) or to series II, respectively, (45.8% of 48). However, this difference was not statistically significant. In conclusion, the materials of series II identified a further subset of patients with a fragrance problem, which would have been missed by the current FM as the single screening tool for patch testing.
Stress and anxiety are increasingly present in society, contributing to many chronic diseases and decreasing quality of life. Non-pharmacological therapies to relieve these symptoms and promote relaxation have been developed, including immersing oneself in nature (so-called ‘forest bathing’). Access to nature, however, is not available to many around the world, due to mobility issues, increasing urban spaces, or pollution, to name a few factors. As such, the use of virtual reality tools or digital nature walks have emerged as a possible alternative that can be done at the comfort of one’s home. While promising results have been reported, existing solutions are not completely immersive as they only stimulate the hearing and vision senses. Here, we propose a multisensory (ultra-reality) immersive experience termed Nat(UR)e, where in addition to audio-visual stimuli, users are also exposed to nature smells and somatosensory stimuli, including wind, heat and vibrations. An experiment was conducted on 16 participants that experienced virtual nature under two conditions: audio-visual only and ultra-sensory. Wearable devices were used to track changes in the participants physiological states. Significant changes in relaxation were achieved with the proposed system and changes in physiological parameters were also observed, suggesting the potential of the Nat(UR)e framework for stress and anxiety treatment.
While sedation and general anesthesia (GA) can prevent children from moving and hence enable the acquisition of artifact-free images in pediatric MRI, repeated use of anesthetics poses long-term health and developmental risks and is also associated with increased costs of the MRI session. Performing unsedated MRI in children can be done during natural sleep or while they are awake, and the success rates of such MRI exams are dependent on the appropriate employment of specific behavioral approaches complemented with effective distraction techniques, tailored to mitigate the child's fear and anxiety associated with having an MRI examination. This chapter reviews the current literature and discusses all the different procedures, as well as the equipment and tools that help a child of any age (focused age group is 0–7 years) go through a successful MRI examination without sedation or anesthesia.
This chapter presents both real experiences of interventions in health care environments and a rich collection of projects. All the experiences and projects are joined with a description of the goals and, when possible, of the obtained results.
The human sense of smell is a primal ability that has the potential to reveal unexplored relationships between user behaviors and technology. Humans use millions of olfactory receptor cells to observe the environment around them. Olfaction studies are gaining popularity with the progression of scent delivering (commercial and prototype) devices. This influx of research features various software and hardware designs. Additionally, previous studies have explored numerous target audiences and evaluation methodologies. This article presents a systematic review of pertinent literature that investigates olfactory-based computing (OBC) systems in the field of Human-Computer Interaction. Last, this article highlights state-of-the-art study/system designs, evaluation methods, and offers insights on ways to address current challenges/contributions relevant to OBC technologies.
Zusammenfassung
Klinische Studien zur Wirksamkeit von Aromatherapie attestieren ätherischen Ölen ein großes Potenzial für die Behandlung von affektiven Beschwerden und kognitiven Defiziten. Nach Jellinek basiert die psychogene Wirksamkeit von ätherischen Ölen und Duftstoffen jedoch nicht nur auf pharmakologischen, sondern auch auf psychologischen Wirkmechanismen, sodass die resultierenden Effekte durch verschiedene, intrapersonelle Faktoren beeinflusst werden können. In diesem Beitrag werden die einzelnen Mechanismen vorgestellt und anhand von Beispielen aus der Emotions- und Kognitionsforschung diskutiert. Der Zusammenhang zwischen Anwendungsart und Wirksamkeit von ätherischen Ölen wird ebenso beleuchtet wie ihre möglichen unerwünschten Wirkungen. Die Kenntnis der verschiedenen Wirkmechanismen ermöglicht einen gezielten Einsatz von ätherischen Ölen und kann die Aromatherapie zu einer noch effizienteren phytotherapeutischen Behandlungsform machen.SchlüsselwörterAromatherapie, Kognition, Emotion, olfaktorische Stimuli,hedonische Valenz
The article contains a literature review devoted to research on the influence of odours on physiological, emotional, and cognitive aspects of human health. The following databases were used at literature search execution: Pubmed, Scopus, Web of Science, MedLine, Global Health, Russian Research Citation Index. A total amount of 60 sources was analyzed for 1983-2019. The experimental research results aimed at studying the influence of odours on such physiological indices a: heart rate, heart rate variability, arterial blood pressure, respiratory rate, skin conductibility reaction, sleep, are described, and emotional and cognitive characteristics of the test subjects. The response to odours exposure was shown to depend on their intensity, hedonistic tone, the chemical structure of the odorant, as well as individual peculiarities of the test subjects, including their past experiences with smelling. In most cases, exposure to unpleasant odours activates the sympathetic nervous system, therefore heart rate, respiratory rate, skin blood circulation and its conductivity increase. Attention concentration increases at the deterioration of cognitive functions. Anger and repulsion reactions are noted at the emotional level; a feeling of discomfort with a motivation to escape appears. The exposure of pleasant odours leads to parasympathetic nervous system activation, heart rate, respiratory rate, skin conductibility, and blood circulation decrease. Cognitive functions improve, the quality of problem-solving increases, attention concentration decreases. A person’s mood gets better; the sensation of happiness appears. At that literature analysis has revealed most of the studies on the human to have significant restrictions: standard exposure methods absence, the difficulty of execution blind experiments that were deemed to be ignorant by test subjects as well as the influence of individual preferences and previous personal experience on the effects generated by the odour. The authors proposed recommendations on the current restrictions prevention and optimization of conducting the experimental research on the influence of odours on humans.
Piperonal, an important aromatic aldehyde containing the benzene ring fused to 1, 3-dioxolane moiety, is widely occurred in nature and known for its fragrance similar to vanillin and cherry. Alterations in its structural features led to the access of a wide range of piperonal derivatives viz. pyrazolines, chalcones, benzothiazepines, benzoxazoles, triazoles etc. having remarkable pharmacological properties like antimicrobial, anticancer, antidiabetic, antitubercular activities etc. Therefore, the present study has been designed to highlight the progress made in the area of piperonal and its derivatives till date with respect to their synthesis and pharmacological activities. This may facilitate the synthesis of more novel derivatives with improved biological activities. Various search engines like google, Pubmed, Scopus etc. were used to gather the related information using different keywords.
Scope
: The effects of aromatherapy on relieving anxiety were controversial. The purpose of this meta-analysis was to evaluate the effects of aromatherapy on anxiety in patients.
Methods and results
: We searched randomized controlled trials (RCTs) about aromatherapy on decreasing anxiety on PUBMED, WEB OF SCIENCE (January 1990 to October 2019), COCHRANE LIBRARY, EMBASE (updated to October 2019), and the Chinese databases CNKI, WanFang and CBMD. Twenty-five articles (Thirty-two trials) were included in this meta-analysis. The data of scale scores of Spielberger State–Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) were extracted. The pooled results demonstrated that inhalation and massage aromatherapy significantly decreased anxiety levels in different conditions. The weighted mean difference was -5.16 for State Anxiety Inventory (SAI) (95%CI: -5.78, -4.55, p<0.001) and -2.85 for Trait Anxiety Inventory (TAI) (95%CI: -3.95, -1.75, p<0.001). No side effects were mentioned in all of studies.
Conclusion
: The meta-analysis suggested that aromatherapy with different essential oils could alleviate anxiety significantly no matter the reason of anxiety. However, the proper dosage of essential oils needs further research.
This work introduces a novel wearable olfactory display that provides just-in-time release of scents based on the physiological state of the wearer. The device can release up to three scents and passively captures subtle chest vibrations associated with the beating of the heart and respiration through clothes.BioEssenceiscontrolledviaacustom-madesmartphone app that allows the creation of physiological rules to trigger different scents (e.g., when the heart rate is above 80 beats per minute, release lavender scent). The device is wireless and lightweight, and it is designed to be used during daily life, clipped on clothes around the sternum area or used as a necklace. We provide a description of the design and implementation of the prototype and potential use cases in the context of mental wellbeing.
Scope:
Piperonal is an aromatic compound found in vanilla and has a floral odor resembling vanillin. This study was aimed to test whether piperonal attenuates visceral adiposity induced by a high-fat diet (HFD) in mice and to explore the underlying molecular mechanisms.
Methods and results:
Male C57BL/6N mice were fed a normal diet, HFD, or 0.05% piperonal-supplemented HFD (PSD) for 10 weeks. PSD-fed mice showed attenuation of body weight gain, total visceral fat pad weights, and plasma lipid levels compared to HFD-fed mice. Piperonal supplementation of the HFD increased the mRNA expression of certain isotypes of adenylate cyclase (Adcy) and protein kinase A (PKA) in the white adipose tissue (WAT) of mice. The adipogenesis-related genes were downregulated, whereas fatty acid oxidation- and thermogenesis-related genes were upregulated in the WAT of PSD-fed mice compared to those in HFD-fed mice. Piperonal directly activated Adcy by decreasing the Km for its substrate (ATP) in plasma membranes prepared from the WAT of mice. Furthermore, piperonal-induced inhibition of adipocyte differentiation and elevation of Adcy and PKA activities in 3T3-L1 cells were abrogated by an Adcy inhibitor.
Conclusion:
The anti-adipogenic effect of piperonal in mice fed the high-fat diet appears to be associated with increased Adcy-PKA signaling in WAT. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
We present a proof-of-concept system that integrates ambient lights with a custom made olfactory display that releases subtle burst of scent triggered by brain signals and micro face-gestures such as blinks or jaw clenches. We non-invasively monitor real-time brain activity data using EEG and reflect this information using scent and subtle changes in the ambient light of the environment. This paper discusses different applications for this type of system as well as the implementation of the olfactory display and the supporting software that connects the ambient lights and the EEG sensor. We also discuss the use of subliminal cues like tuning the lighting setup and varying the scent for different kind of behavior changes.
The definition of aromatherapy is the controlled use of essential oils (2). Essential oils are steam distillates obtained from aromatic plants. Aromatherapy is a fairly new complementary therapy, although its roots are in herbal medicine, one of the oldest known forms of medicine. Aromatherapy is an accepted part of nursing care in the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Germany, Australia, and Canada, and many nurses in the United States are beginning to use aromatherapy. Aromatherapy is particularly useful in cardiology (see Table 1), because the use of familiar smells and gentle touch can be deeply reassuring. Essential oils have many other properties that can be useful in cardiology-hypotensor, sedative, antiinflammatory, antispasmodic, analgesic, antibiotic, antifungal, and antiviral. This chapter covers the use of aromatherapy for borderline hypertension and for fear and anxiety associated with myocardial infarction (MI) or cardiac surgery and outlines interesting case and small clinical studies addressing the effect of essential oils on methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)
Table 1
Essential Oils for Specific Diagnosis
Diagnosis
Essential oil
Research
Reference
Borderline hypertension
Ylang ylang
Lavender
Rose
Neroli
Lemon
Clary sage
Freund, 2000
Saeki and Shiohara, 2001
Nathan, 2000
Tiran, 1996
Tiran, 1996
Tiran, 1996
28
30
31
34
34
34
Reducing fear and anxiety
Lavender
Roman chamomile
Rose
Hadfiele, 2001
Yamada et al., 1996
Manly, 1993
41
46
51
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureaus
Tea tree
Lavender
Juniper
Peppermint
Lemongrass
Eucalyptus
Clove
Thyme
Nelson, 1997
Nelson, 1997
Nelson, 1997
Nelson, 1997
Sherry et al., 2001
Sherry et al., 2001
Sherry et al., 2001
Sherry et al., 2001
22
22
22
22
26
26
26
26
Studies suggest that between 20%-50% of adults in industrialized nations use some form of complementary and/or alternative medicine (CAM) to either prevent or treat health problems, with higher rates of CAM use observed in nonindustrialized nations. Frequently used approaches include biologically based treatments, manipulative and body-based practices, and mind-body interventions. This chapter summarizes findings from systematic investigations of CAM in treating anxiety disorders and other anxiety states.
Aromatherapy is one of the main complementary therapies to be practiced by nurses and other health care professionals in hospital, hospice, and community settings. Written by a nurse, this clinical text highlights how aromatherapy can enhance care and the role health care professionals play in its practice. It examines key facts and issues in aromatherapy practice, and applies these within a variety of contexts and conditions, taking a carefully holistic approach in dealing with the patient.
Odors have a special link to the emotions that can be assessed by careful measurement. This chapter reviews research carried out to measure the emotional effects of odors both physiologically and using self-report methodology. Physiological monitoring of blood pressure, brain waves, various measures of the autonomic nervous system, and the startle reflex have demonstrated that pleasant versus unpleasant odors generally evoke a positive versus a negative emotional response. However, these methods have not successfully demonstrated a finer discrimination among different positive emotions, such as stimulation from relaxation. Various approaches to measuring moods, or self-reported emotions, are described. Issues relating to the dimensions and categories of mood are considered, as well as whether mood effects of fragrances are best measured in a before-after, a retrospective, or a forced-choice methodology. A simple, forced-choice technique is highlighted, called Mood Mapping®. It measures a respondent's mood association to a flavor or fragrance chosen from a set of 8 mood categories. Comparisons are made among different fragrances or flavors based on the distribution of mood votes across respondents. It has been used to screen hundreds of perfumery materials, as well as many more Living® flowers, fruits, and spices, commercial fragrances, and fragrances in development. A large database has thus been cataloged and incorporated into a perfumer's tool called the Consumer Fragrance Thesaurus. This tool gives guidance to IFF's creative staff in developing fragrances for aromatherapy based products, where moods are a principal concern, as well as other fragrances, where other attributes are of key interest (e.g., clean, fresh, etc.).
This chapter focuses on aromatherapy and its use in improving mental health. Aromatherapy, also known as aromatic medicine, is the art and science of using plant oils for health, well-being, and medical treatment. Contained within the oil are hundreds of chemicals. Knowledge of these chemicals and their actions on the body, mind, and spirit allows the aromatherapist to select various oils to varying degrees to treat a multitude of conditions. The essential oil is made in special cells of the plant. Various methods are used to obtain the oils from raw plant material. Steam distillation is the most common procedure. A clinical effect from an oil can be anticipated with a knowledge of the major chemical compounds in the oil. This principle of synergy is used often in aromatherapy to enhance a desired result. Conversely, when two or more oils that have different chemical makeup are blended together, the effect may be more subtle and spread out over many tissues and organs. The two most common ways of administering essential oils are by inhalation and by applying it to the skin. In some advanced aromatherapy practices, the oils are also given orally. This chapter also discusses safety factors including toxicity, dose limit, purity, and phototoxicity related to the use of oils along with the current problems involved.
Although essential oils are used increasingly for the improvement in quality of life as well as for the relief of various symptoms in patients, scientific evaluation of the effects of fragrances in healthy volunteers is rather scarce. Up to now, no experiments about the effects of sweet orange oil (Citrus sinensis) on human physiological parameters and on behavioral measures after inhalation have been carried out. Therefore, the main objective of the present study was to investigate the effects of this fragrance compound on physiological parameters as well as selfevaluation in healthy human subjects following inhalation. Physiological parameters recorded were blood pressure, breathing rate, skin temperature, and heart rate. Self-evaluation was assessed in terms of alertness, attentiveness, calmness, mood, relaxation, and vigour. Additionally, the fragrance was rated in terms of pleasantness, intensity, and effect. Sweet orange oil caused significant increases in heart rate as well as in subjective alertness, which are likely to represent a stimulating effect of the oil. These findings furnish scientific proof for the use of sweet orange oil in aromatherapy for the relief of mild forms of depression and stress in humans.
Purpose
– This replication and extension of Hirsch and Gruss examines the impact of spatial density and ambient scent on consumers' spatial perception and anxiety. The paper aims to discuss these issues.
Design/methodology/approach
– A 2 (spatial density: high, low)×3 (ambient scent: no scent, scent associated with spaciousness, scent associated with enclosed spaces) between-participants experimental design was implemented in a laboratory setting. A pretest determined scent selection and manipulation checks were successful.
Findings
– Spatial perception was influenced by spatial density, but not ambient scent. Ambient scent and spatial density interacted, such that consumers' anxiety levels significantly increased under conditions of low spatial density combined with an ambient scent associated with spaciousness, and directionally increased under conditions of high spatial density combined with ambient scent associated with enclosed space.
Research limitations/implications
– This research was conducted in a laboratory setting in order to increase experimental control. An exploration of the strength of the observed effects in a field (retail) setting would be insightful.
Practical implications
– Results of this study suggest that retailers need to consider both spatial density and choice of ambient scent carefully in order to reduce consumers' anxiety levels.
Originality/value
– This research is one of the few to consider the impact of spatial density and ambient scent on consumers' anxiety levels. The use of a between-participants design and the experimental manipulation of both spatial density and ambient scent results in a more rigorous test of the scent – anxiety relation observed in previous research.
The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of responses to selected fragrance materials in consecutive patients patch tested in 6 dermatological centres in Europe. 1855 patients were evaluated with the 8% fragrance mix (FM) and 14 other frequently used well-defined fragrance chemicals (series I). Each patient was classified regarding a history of adverse reactions to fragrances: certain, probable, questionable, none. Reactions to FM occurred in 11.3% of the subjects. The 6 substances with the highest reactivity following FM were Lyral® (2.7%), citral (1.1%), farnesol P (0.5%), citronellol (0.4%), hexyl cinnamic aldehyde (0.3%), and coumarin (0.3%). 41 (2.2%) of the patients reacted only to materials of series I and not to FM. 6.6% of 1855 patients gave a history of adverse reactions to fragrances which was classified as certain. This group reacted to FM only in 41.1%, to series I and FM in 12.0% and to series I only in 7.2%. 74.3% of the 39 patients reacting to both FM and 1 of the materials of series I had any type of positive fragrance history, which was significantly higher in comparison to those with isolated reactions to series I (53.6% of 41), p = 0.04. The study identified further sensitizers relevant for patch testing of patients with contact dermatitis, of which Lyral® is the most important single chemical.
Fragrance is a major component in many personal products, influencing their acceptability and, in some cases, their perceived efficacy. Despite claims that certain fragrances can relax or energize, there is surprisingly little scientific evidence in support of direct, physiological effects of fragrances. Rather, recent research suggests that psychological factors, such as personal experience, expectations, and the surrounding context may be among the most important factors that determine how a fragrance is perceived.
Interpretation of studies of induced mood and memory is complicated by the fact that mood induction procedures may elicit mood-related cognition in addition to mood per se. We used odors to produce positive and negative experiences with minimal cognitive involvement. College women recalled memories cued by neutral words while exposed to a pleasant odor, unpleasant odor, or no odor. Subjects then rated their memories as to how happy or unhappy the events recalled were at the time they occurred. Subjects in the pleasant odor condition produced a significantly greater percentage of happy memories than did subjects in the unpleasant odor condition. When subjects who did not find the odors at least moderately pleasant or unpleasant were removed from the analysis, more pronounced effects on memory were found. The results suggest that congruence between the general hedonic tone of current experience and that of material in long-term memory is sufficient to bias retrieval.
This book is intended for the reader who already has some familiarity with psychobiology. It is for researchers, graduate students, and upper level undergraduates who are interested in the topic of motivated behavior in animals and people. Our hope is that it will not only serve as a text for graduate and advanced undergraduate courses, but also that it will be enjoyed by those doing research on motivation and/or reward processes.
To test whether facial expressions regulate the expressers' emotional experience, 59 high school and college students smelled pleasant and disgusting odors while reacting to them spontaneously, with a facial pose indicating that the odors were pleasant, or with a facial pose indicating that they were disgusting. In a result that supported the facial feedback hypothesis, Ss evaluated the odors consistently with their facial poses, but the odors themselves had a far greater impact on evaluations than did posing instructions. To test whether spontaneous and deceptive emotional expressions would be more effective as communication if the expresser were in the presence of another rather than alone, Ss smelled odors when they were alone or when seated next to another naive S who could not see them. Contrary to prediction, Ss were less successful facial communicators in the presence of another, as assessed by 7 undergraduate judges. In this condition they communicated their evaluations less when they were spontaneously reacting to the odors and leaked their evaluations more when they were trying to hide their expressions. (38 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)
Between 5 and 10% of patients attempting a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan become claustrophobic during the procedure. There has been a paucity of reported research in this area. This study was designed to investigate MRI-related phobia and identify risk factors for claustrophobia development. There were 108 subjects who had never had a scan, 57 males and 51 females, ranging in age from 19 to 72 years (mean age of 43 years). Subjects were evaluated before and after the scan and contacted for 1-month follow-up. Major findings included the following: (1) prescan report of pain was significantly correlated with stopping the scan, (2) prescan Fear Survey Schedule scores correlated significantly with reported claustrophic feelings after the scan, and (3) stopping the scan correlated significantly with follow-up report of an increase in claustrophobic feelings. Conclusions were that prescan pain and fear assessment may help predict, and allow intervention in, phobic response during and after the MRI scan. Implications for referring physicians and MRI technicians are discussed.
The use of behavioral techniques with radiologic procedures has received surprisingly little attention in the behavioral literature. The current paper describes the successful use of systematic desensitization to enable a woman to complete a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan. Suggestions for when behavior therapy may be useful to radiologists are also given.
Two studies were conducted to investigate the use of cognitive/attentional distraction (via commercially available video games) to control conditioned nausea in pediatric cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. The first study compared the nausea severity in children who played video games during chemotherapy-related procedures with that of control-group children who did not play video games. The second study used a combined ABAB withdrawal and repeated measures analysis of variance design that incorporated baseline and intervention assessments within a single session. In both studies, video game-playing resulted in significantly less nausea. The introduction and withdrawal of the opportunity to play video games produced significant changes (reduction and exacerbation, respectively) in nausea. Although video games also reduced self-reported anxiety, the effects were weaker than those for nausea. Pulse rate and systolic/diastolic blood pressure were not consistently affected. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)
Nausea and vomiting in anticipation of chemotherapy often develop in patients undergoing cancer treatment. Previously neutral environmental stimuli that are associated with treatment acquire aversive properties and elicit nausea, gagging, and/or retching, which are not controlled by available antiemetic drugs. In this study, deep muscle relaxation hypnosis controlled these conditioned reactions in all cases. Anticipatory emesis recurred when hypnosis was not used. During subsequent sessions in which hypnosis was reinstated, anticipatory emesis was again controlled.
- Redd