Comparison between one-session psychological treatment and benzodiazepine in dental phobia

To compare the effects of a single session of psychological treatment and a cute administration of benzodiazepine. 50 dental phobic patients were alloc ated either to psychological treatment, benzodiazepine, or no treatment for anxiety. Psychological treatment consisted of stress management training a nd imaginal exposure to phobic stimuli with homework assignments. Benzodiaz epine was administered 30 min before dental treatment. Both treatment condi tions led to less anxiety during dental surgery than did the control condit ion. Phobic patients in the benzodiazepine condition showed a relapse after dental treatment, whereas those in the psychological treatment condition s howed further improvement until the follow-up 2 months later. Of the latter group, 70% continued dental treatment; only 20% and 10% returned in the be nzodiazepine and control conditions, respectively.