Aromatherapy Massage Reduces Psychological Distress in Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

In 30 seconds

This randomized controlled trial evaluated the impact of aromatherapy massage on anxiety and depressive symptoms in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. The study found that the aromatherapy group had greater reductions in these symptoms compared to controls, although the differences between aromatherapy and placebo groups were not statistically significant. Adjusted mean differences indicated small-to-moderate effect sizes.

Key findings

• Aromatherapy massage led to greater reductions in anxiety and depressive symptoms compared to control groups.
• Differences between aromatherapy and placebo groups were not statistically significant.
• Small-to-moderate effect sizes were observed in the aromatherapy group.

Why it matters

Understanding the potential benefits of complementary therapies like aromatherapy massage can help clinicians provide holistic care for patients with rheumatoid arthritis, particularly in managing psychological distress.