RECENT RESEARCH
Conclusion: Aromatherapy with lavender oil may help reduce anxiety and fatigue in ICD patients and support the use of complementary care strategies in this population.
Reven ME, Carpenter R, Smith MJ, Newhouse A, Wang K. Using an aromatherapy intervention with Citrus bergamia( bergamot) essential oil in adults in treatment for substance use disorder: A randomized controlled trial. Int J Nurs Sci. 2025; 12( 4): 311-319. doi: 10.1016 / j. ijnss. 2025.04.011. PMID: 40786851; PMCID: PMC12332428.
Objectives: This study had two aims. Aim one is to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of using an aroma-based, self-managed intervention for adults in outpatient treatment for substance use disorder. Aim two is to examine the effects of a Citrus bergamia( Bergamot) essential oil intervention on the variables of comfort, ease, and stress.
Methods: A randomized controlled trial was conducted( NCT05660434). Adults in treatment for substance use disorder were randomized to either control group( standard care)( n = 55) or intervention group( standard care plus Citrus bergamia [ Bergamot ] essential oil intervention), three times a day for seven days( n = 45). All data were analyzed using an intention-to-treat method. Outcomes were measured using valid and reliable measures.
Results: One hundred participants were recruited over 11 months. Reasons for non or limited participation included feeling overwhelmed by the demands of treatment and everyday living. Data analysis showed psychological variable improvement with a significant increase in ease reported( P = 0.022) and DASS-21 subscales for depression( P = 0.007) and anxiety( P = 0.013) in the intervention group. Post-satisfaction survey results were positive, with overall enjoyment, perception of the aroma, and intention to continue to use the aroma inhaler post-trial, which was high.
Conclusions: Results from this study provide data to support the feasibility and acceptability of using essential oil via inhalation to help this population. Findings from this study will inform a more extensive study designed to examine effects within and between groups using a placebo.
Complementary therapies
Goldfine CE, Wilson JM, Kaithamattam J, Hasdianda MA, Mancey K, Rehding A, Schreiber KL, Chai PR, Weiner SG. Randomized Trial of Self-Selected Music Intervention on Pain and Anxiety in Emergency Department Patients with Musculoskeletal Back Pain. West J Emerg Med. 2025; 26( 4): 1112-1119. doi: 10.5811 / westjem. 34871. PMID: 40795020; PMCID: PMC12342572.
Introduction: Acute musculoskeletal back pain is a frequent cause of emergency department( ED) visits, often with suboptimal relief from standard treatments. Recent evidence suggests listening to music may modulate pain and anxiety. In this pilot randomized controlled trial, we evaluated the impact of a brief session of patient-selected music vs noise cancellation on pain severity and anxiety in patients presenting to the ED with back pain.
Methods: Patients with acute back pain completed a baseline survey to assess demographics, medication information, and psychosocial factors. The ED patients were randomized to listen to self-selected music or to noise cancellation( control). Patients rated their pain and anxiety( 0-10) before and immediately after the intervention. We used analyses of covariance to examine whether post-intervention pain and anxiety differed between the groups, while controlling for baseline trait pain catastrophizing. A mediation analysis was conducted to explore the role of postintervention anxiety as a mediator of the group difference in post-intervention pain.
Results: Forty patients were enrolled with an average age of 47.2 years( range 21- 81). and 27 patients( 68 %) were female. At baseline, patients in the music group reported higher pain catastrophizing compared to patients in the noise cancellation group. There were no other group differences in baseline characteristics. Post-intervention, patients in the music group reported significantly lower anxiety( 3.0 ± 0.7 vs 5.5 ± 0.7, P = 0.016) and pain severity( 6.1 ± 0.4 vs. 7.5 ± 0.4, P = 0.037) compared to the noise cancellation group. A mediation analysis showed that post-intervention anxiety partially mediated the association between intervention group( music vs noise cancellation) and post-intervention pain.
Conclusion: A brief session of selfselected music resulted in lower pain and anxiety scores than noise cancellation among patients with musculoskeletal back pain in the ED. Patients who listened to music reported lower postintervention anxiety, which partially contributed to lower post-intervention pain severity.
Little AL. The A52 Breath Method: A Narrative Review of Breathwork for Mental Health and Stress Resilience. Stress Health. 2025; 41( 4): e70098. doi: 10.1002 / smi. 70098. PMID: 40792649; PMCID: PMC12341363.
Breathwork- deliberately altering the way one breathes- has gained growing attention as an emerging non-pharmacological intervention for mental health and stress regulation. A novel yet ancient method that remains largely underexplored in the literature, breathwork requires structured, evidence-based investigation to optimize its application. This review analyses the existing literature on slow, diaphragmatic, nasal breathing and breath-holding techniques, to propose the A52 Breath Method-a theoretically grounded approach for enhancing stress resilience. A narrative review of breathwork literature was conducted that focused on the physiological and psychological mechanisms underpinning stress reduction. Medical databases were searched: 465 articles were screened and 30 studies underwent full-text review. Studies examining slow breathing( ≤ 6 breaths per minute), diaphragmatic activation, nasal breathing, and breath
178 | vol31 | no3 | JATMS