GROUP-THERAPY COMPARED WITH INDIVIDUAL DESENSITIZATION FOR DENTAL ANXIETY

Effects of group therapy (GT) on extreme dental anxiety were compared with individual treatment (IT). Results by scales of dental anxiety, b eliefs or trust in dentists, and fear of the next dentist after specia list treatment showed reduced dental anxiety and improved dental belie fs compared with a static control group of 45 patients. The 30 GT pati ents showed no significant difference in dropouts during training comp ared with the 68 IT patients, but for patients who completed treatment , GT (n=24) had greater dental anxiety reduction than IT subjects (n=6 0). GT patients required fewer therapist hours per patients than did e ither of the two IT methods, but time saved in GT did not reach signif icance over clinical rehearsal IT Results at 1-yr follow-up after spec ialist treatment indicated that dropouts were significantly greater in group therapy. Rehearsal IT performed best for sustained dental care behavior. Group dynamics are discussed and suggestions made for effect ive and efficient group therapy as well as decision making about choic e of treatment.