Using an aromatherapy intervention with Citrus bergamia (bergamot) essential oil in adults in treatment for substance use disorder: A randomized controlled trial.

Completion of all study materials was low: 38 of the 100 randomized participants completed all materials, and the authors report only 18 intervention-group participants completed all study measures. Because participants continued standard substance use disorder treatment, including group therapy, individual therapy, medication-assisted treatment, and mental health care, the contribution of bergamot aromatherapy alone cannot be separated. Comfort, ease, and stress were self-reported, so expectations or desire to report positive outcomes may bias the results. There was no follow-up beyond one week after the intervention, so it is unknown whether effects lasted. The sample was drawn from one region and was mostly white and non-Hispanic, with 96 participants reported as white and non-Hispanic.

The study was funded by the West Virginia Nurses Association Rosenthal-Riter Scholarship fund and the West Virginia University School of Nursing Ruth and Robert Kuhn Nursing Research Foundation, and the funders reported no role in design, collection, analysis, interpretation, or writing. The authors declared no conflict of interest. The intervention was created by the authors, and the principal investigator was an aromatherapist; the aroma inhalers were prepared by Plant Extracts Intl., USA.

Do not conclude that bergamot aromatherapy reduced overall stress or comfort. The overall comfort and combined depression, anxiety, and stress scores did not differ between groups, and participants also received group therapy, individual therapy, medication-assisted treatment, and mental health care, so the effect of bergamot alone cannot be separated.