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Mental Retrieval of Treatment Context in Dental Phobia

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 April 2012

Karin Elsesser ,
Andre Wannemüller ,
Thomas Lohrmann ,
Peter Jöhren  and
Gudrun Sartory
Karin Elsesser
Affiliation:
University of Wuppertal, Germany
Andre Wannemüller
Affiliation:
University of Wuppertal, Germany
Thomas Lohrmann
Affiliation:
University of Wuppertal, Germany
Peter Jöhren
Affiliation:
Augusta Hospital, Bochum, Germany
Gudrun Sartory*
Affiliation:
University of Wuppertal, Germany
*
Reprint requests to Gudrun Sartory, Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Wuppertal, Max-Horkheimer-Strasse 20, 42119 Wuppertal, Germany. E-mail: sartory@uni-wuppertal.de
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Abstract

Background: The effect of mental retrieval of an exposure session was investigated during a follow-up examination in dental phobia patients. Method: The exposure session took place at the psychology unit and the follow-up a week later at the dental clinic prior to dental treatment while patients were seated in the dental chair. During exposure, individuals with dental phobia (N = 72) were shown a video of a dental appointment, after which they were instructed to imagine themselves receiving dental treatment. During follow-up half of the participants received instructions to mentally retrieve the exposure session and the other half were asked to recall everyday activities. Before and after exposure treatment, and after mental retrieval, participants were shown three dental instruments while heart rate (HR) and avoidance and subjective units of discomfort (SUD) were recorded. Results: Questionnaires of phobic anxiety administered before and after treatment indicated significant improvement. Mental retrieval of treatment was moderately superior to the control condition with regard to avoidance. Over 80% of patients underwent the subsequent dental treatment session. Those not adhering showed initially more dysfunctional cognitions and more desire for control. Conclusion: There is some evidence that retrieval of treatment context may have a moderately beneficial effect on avoidance.

Keywords

Dental phobiamental retrievalexposureheart rate
Type
Research Article
Information
Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy , Volume 41 , Issue 2 , March 2013 , pp. 173 - 187
Copyright
Copyright © British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies 2012

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