title: Correlates of success and failure in behavior therapy for dental fear.
abstract: Extreme dental fear and avoidance are universal problems, with severe adverse effects on the patient's oral health. Although behavior modification techniques were shown to be effective in the treatment of this problem, their success is by no means absolute. In the present article, the SCL-90 questionnaire was used for development of possible predictive measures for success and failure of behavior modification as a treatment for dental fear. Patients who failed in treatment through behavior modification were found to score significantly higher on the global score of Positive Symptom Distress Index (p < 0.01) and on individual subscales of somatization (p < 0.02) and psychoticism (p < 0.05) than patients who were treated successfully. The predictive value of chosen SCL-90 scales was 71%. The results suggest that use of SCL-90 may be valuable for the prediction of success and failure of behavior modification as a treatment for dental fear and avoidance.
authors.affiliation: Section of Behavioral Sciences, Maurice and Gabriela Goldschleger School of Dental Medicine, Tel Aviv University.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kleinhauz
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Eli
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Baht
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Shamay
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001521:Behavior Therapy; D016854:Dental Anxiety / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008347:Manifest Anxiety Scale; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome