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Impact of adding aromatherapy to sound intervention on cardiovascular parameters and psychophysiological measures in cancer patients: a randomized exploratory trial

Introduction: Integrative therapeutic approaches are able to improve psychophysiological outcomes in cancer patients. Whether additional beneficial effects can be achieved by combining aromatherapy to sound intervention is unclear. Methods: Eighty cancer patients were randomized (1:1) to either a 20...

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Main Authors: Hohneck, Anna (Author) , Troia, Melissa (Author) , Kolar, Valentin (Author) , Weingärtner, Simone (Author) , Merx, Kirsten (Author) , Sarodnick, Felicitas (Author) , Mavratzas, Athanasios (Author) , Burkholder, Iris (Author) , Schumacher, Gerhard (Author) , Hofmann, Wolf-Karsten (Author) , Hofheinz, Ralf-Dieter (Author)
Format: Article (Journal)
Language:English
Published: November 2025
In: Oncology research and treatment
Year: 2025, Volume: 48, Issue: 11, Pages: 716-728
ISSN:2296-5262
DOI:10.1159/000545932
Online Access:Verlag, lizenzpflichtig, Volltext: https://doi.org/10.1159/000545932
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Author Notes:Anna Lena Hohneck, Melissa Troia, Valentin Kolar, Simone Weingärtner, Kirsten Merx, Felicitas Sarodnick, Athanasios Mavratzas, Iris Burkholder, Gerhard Schumacher, Wolf-Karsten Hofmann, Ralf-Dieter Hofheinz
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Summary:Introduction: Integrative therapeutic approaches are able to improve psychophysiological outcomes in cancer patients. Whether additional beneficial effects can be achieved by combining aromatherapy to sound intervention is unclear. Methods: Eighty cancer patients were randomized (1:1) to either a 20-min sound intervention (“sound only,” classical music via headphones) or a sound intervention combined with aromatherapy (“aroma”). Cardiovascular parameters (measured with VascAssist2.0), visual analogue scales for emotional well-being, anxiety, stress, pain and sadness, and the State Trait Anxiety Inventory were assessed before and after intervention. Results:Sound only led to a significant reduction in the heart rate, while a trend for a lower heart rate was observed in the aroma group. Both pulse wave velocity (p = 0.04) and vascular resistance (p = 0.04) were reduced by sound only. Psychophysiological outcomes were improved by both interventions with a more pronounced but not significantly different effect on pain reduction by aroma (aroma p < 0.001; sound only p = 0.002). Conclusion: Both interventions were able to improve psychophysiological outcomes. In terms of cardiovascular parameters, a sound intervention alone achieved greater but not significantly different results compared to aroma, while the addition of aromatherapy yielded no substantial additional effects.
Item Description:Online veröffentlicht: 4. Juni 2025
Gesehen am 30.09.2025
Physical Description:Online Resource
ISSN:2296-5262
DOI:10.1159/000545932

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