Psychological trauma exposure and trauma symptoms among individuals with high and low levels of dental anxiety.
This questionnaire-based study investigated the traumatic background and trauma-related symptomatology among 141 treatment-seeking individuals with high levels of dental anxiety and among a low-anxious reference group consisting of 99 regular dental patients. The highly anxious individuals reported a significantly higher number of traumatic events, both within and outside the dental or medical setting, than those in the reference group (73% vs. 21%). Horrific experiences in the dental setting were the most common traumatic events reported. Of the highly anxious individuals, 46.1% indicated suffering from one or more of the post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptom clusters (re-experiencing, avoidance, loss of interest, and insomnia), while in the reference group this percentage was 6%. Severity of dental anxiety was significantly associated with number of screening criteria for specific phobia and the extent to which the anxious subjects displayed symptoms of post-traumatic stress. Two variables were uniquely predictive for positive diagnostic screens for dental phobia and PTSD: having experienced a horrific dental treatment and having been a victim of a violent crime. In conclusion, post-traumatic symptoms are common accompaniments of severe forms of dental anxiety and are experienced even when dental treatment is not imminent.
de Jongh
Ad
A
Department of Social Dentistry and Behavioral Sciences, Academic Center for Dentistry Amsterdam, The Netherlands. a.de.jongh@acta.nl
Fransen
Jolanda
J
Oosterink-Wubbe
Floor
F
Aartman
Irene
I
D000059:Accidents / Q000523:psychology; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001290:Attitude; D001519:Behavior; D019548:Crime Victims / Q000523:psychology; D016854:Dental Anxiety / Q000523:psychology*; D003729:Dental Care / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory; D008875:Middle Aged; D012742:Sex Offenses / Q000523:psychology; D007319:Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / Q000523:psychology; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000523:psychology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014754:Violence / Q000523:psychology; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000523:psychology