Management of behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia by an aroma‐massage with acupressure treatment protocol: A randomised clinical trial

Aims and objectives This study evaluates the clinical effectiveness of a multicomponent aroma‐massage with an acupressure treatment protocol and compared it to cognitive training for the management of behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia. Background Pharmacological interventions have been unsatisfactory in managing behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia; thus, complementary and alternative medicine has been extensively researched to identify an adjunct safe and cost‐effective intervention. Design This randomised clinical trial utilised a three‐arm parallel group design. Cognitive training was used as a conventional intervention to manage behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia, whereas exercise was considered “treatment as usual” in this study; both were used as comparisons with the experimental protocol. There were three treatment groups: Group 1: aroma‐massage with acupressure + exercise, Group 2: cognitive training + exercise and Group 3: aroma‐massage with acupressure + cognitive training. Method Sixty older adults were recruited and randomly assigned to the three groups (20 each). Using the 29‐item Chinese Version of the Cohen‐Mansfield Agitation Inventory, Neuropsychiatric Inventory, Mini‐mental State Examination and Barthel Index‐20, the outcome measures were assessed at preintervention, postintervention and the 3‐month follow‐up to assess behaviour, Activities of Daily Living, cognition, and behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia severity and distress. Multiple comparisons performed through repeated measures were analysed to detect between‐group differences and within‐subject differences, as well as the interaction effects between groups and times. Results The Group 1 and 3 participants showed a significant reduction in the severity and distress caused by behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia, whereas Group 2 did not demonstrate similar effects. Conclusions This clinical study suggests that aroma‐massage with acupressure is as effective as cognitive training and can enhance cognitive training in reducing the severity and distress of behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia. Relevance to clinical practice Aroma‐massage with acupressure may serve as an adjunct therapy to reduce behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia. This therapy is safe, cost‐effective and can be implemented by caregivers and family members who are not professionally trained.