A new study led by Deakin University and Phoenix Australia is trialling a lavender oil extract as a treatment option for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
The Silexan in the Treatment of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (STOP) Trial is investigating whether adding Silexan, a lavender oil medication, to treatment-as-usual improves PTSD symptoms in adults with PTSD.
Study lead, Deakin Distinguished Professor Michael Berk, Director of Deakin’s Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation (IMPACT) said about one in 10 Australians will suffer from PTSD at some point during their lifetime.
“Current PTSD treatments include talking therapy and medications and while these treatments are effective for many people, some PTSD sufferers unfortunately continue to experience symptoms despite receiving treatment,’ Professor Berk said.
‘In particular, nearly 40% of people who receive the current gold-standard talking therapy for PTSD do not improve with this treatment.
‘Silexan, the lavender oil medication we are using in the STOP trial, is already used to treat anxiety conditions, including Generalized Anxiety Disorder and depression. It is safe and effective for these conditions. The STOP trial will establish whether Silexan is also an effective treatment for the symptoms of PTSD,’ Professor Berk said.
Co-investigator Dr Rahul Khanna, a psychiatrist and Director of Innovation at Phoenix Australia, said Silexan’s side effect profile was a major advantage over the medications currently used for PTSD.
‘Silexan is very well tolerated by patients, with side effects occurring in only about 6% of users and these are limited to mild gastrointestinal symptoms such as burping and lavender-smelling breath,’ Dr Khanna said.Adults with PTSD living anywhere in Australia are eligible to take part in the STOP trial.
Participants will take a lavender oil or a placebo capsule daily for 12 weeks. Participants can continue their usual medications and talking therapy during the trial.
Participants will attend seven assessments and will be paid $50 for each assessment they attend. They can participate in the trial in person or remotely via Zoom, with the study medication mailed to them.
Are you eligible for the STOP PTSD Trial?
If you are aged 18 or over and have symptoms of PTSD, you may be eligible to participate in the STOP trial. Visit the study website to learn more and register your interest: https://www.phoenixaustralia.org/research-projects/stop-trial/.
Individuals interested in participating can also self-refer by contacting the Phoenix Australia intake team on 1800 292 969 or at stop-trial@unimelb.edu.au.
The STOP trial is funded by an AUD $3 million grant from the United States Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs.
This media release was originally created and published by Deakin Media and is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).
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