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Efficacy of Inhalation of Essential Oil on the Reduction of Inhalants Craving

A Novel Approach of Substitution Therapy With Inhalation of Essential Oil for the Reduction of Inhalants Craving: A Double-blinded Randomized Controlled Trial

Status
Completed
Phases
Phase 3
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT03296943
Enrollment
34
Registered
2017-09-29
Start date
2010-07-01
Completion date
2010-11-30
Last updated
2017-09-29

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Inhalants Craving

Brief summary

Inhalants, which are neurotoxic central nervous system (CNS) suppressants, are frequently abused by young adults. Unlike other CNS depressants, including alcohol and opiates, no treatment is currently approved for inhalants dependence. In this report, a novel approach of substitution treatment for inhalants addiction was explored in a double-blinded, randomized, controlled crossover design to examine the effects of inhalation of essential oil (EO) and perfume (PF) on the reduction of cue-induced craving for inhalants in a cohort of thirty-four Thai males with inhalants dependence. The craving response was measured by the modified version of Penn Alcohol Craving Score for Inhalants (PACS-inhalants)

Interventions

COMBINATION_PRODUCTEssential oil

To inhale the essential oil in an air-conditioned room, the container was flipped over to soak the roll-on cap that was then rolled-on circularly at the right mid-palm of the subject at 2 centimeter in diameter for 5 cycles.

COMBINATION_PRODUCTPerfume

To inhale the perfume in an air-conditioned room, the container was flipped over to soak the roll-on cap that was then rolled-on circularly at the right mid-palm of the subject at 2 centimeter in diameter for 5 cycles.

BEHAVIORALCue-induced inhalants craving

Exposing individuals with a set of 12 pictures for one-minute (e.g., 5 second display per picture) every five minutes for three sets in total followed by another three sets of neutral/relaxing pictures of nature.

Sponsors

Chulalongkorn University
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
CROSSOVER
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
QUADRUPLE (Subject, Caregiver, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)

Masking description

The containers for essential oil and perfume are identical dark-glass tubes with a roll-on-cap on top and double-covered with a plain cap on each tube.

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 65 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Participants with ability to smell if they could correctly identify 3 out of 5 odors, namely fish sauce, lemon, onion, basil, and jasmine. * Individuals with inducible picture-cues inhalant craving based on a 50% increase in craving score from baseline.

Exclusion criteria

* Individuals with a history of major psychiatric disorders, including psychotic and mood disorders * Individuals with illicit substance dependence other than inhalants * Individuals with allergic reactions to essential oil or perfume.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Inhalants craving - VASDaily for 3 daysInhalants craving was measured by the Visual Analog Scale (VAS).
Inhalants craving - PACSDaily for 3 daysInhalants craving was measured by the Penn Alcohol Craving Scale for Inhalants (PACS-inhalants)

Countries

Thailand

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026