One- vs. five-session treatment of dental phobia: A randomized controlled study

• Published in: Journal of behavior therapy and experimental psychiatry 2008-09, Vol.39 (3), p.381-390
• Main Authors: Haukebø, Kristin, Skaret, Erik, Öst, Lars-Göran, Raadal, Magne, Berg, Einar, Sundberg, Håkan, Kvale, Gerd
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Adult and adolescent clinical studies; Anxiety disorders. Neuroses; Attitude to Health; Behavior therapy. Cognitive therapy; Biological and medical sciences; Dental Anxiety - diagnosis; Dental Anxiety - psychology; Dental Anxiety - therapy; Dental Care - psychology; Dental phobia; Desensitization, Psychologic - methods; Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; Exposure in vivo; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Implosive Therapy - methods; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; One-session treatment; Patient Dropouts; Personality Inventory; Phobia; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; Psychiatry; Psychology; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychometrics; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Psykologi; SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP; SOCIAL SCIENCES; Socialvetenskap; Surveys and Questionnaires; Treatment Outcome; Treatments; Videotape Recording; Waiting Lists
• ISSN: 0005-7916; 1873-7943; 1873-7943
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jbtep.2007.09.006

Abstract Forty participants fulfilling the DSM-IV criteria for dental phobia were randomly assigned to a waitlist group, one-session or five-session exposure treatment. Assessment occurred pre-, post-waitlist/treatment, and after 1 year. Mean avoidance of dental care before treatment was 11.4 years. A total of 77% sought dental care in the follow-up year. Both treatments were equally effective at reducing avoidance behavior and changing cognitions during the feared situation. Post-treatment, the five-session group scored lower on the dental anxiety scales, but at follow-up, both groups reported the same level of dental anxiety. Conclusion : Both treatment conditions enable a return to ordinary dental treatment.