R. Moore et I. Brodsgaard, GROUP-THERAPY COMPARED WITH INDIVIDUAL DESENSITIZATION FOR DENTAL ANXIETY, Community dentistry and oral epidemiology, 22(4), 1994, pp. 258-262
Citations number
18
Categorie Soggetti
Dentistry,Oral Surgery & Medicine","Public, Environmental & Occupation Heath
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.