title: Relationship between dental anxiety, general anxiety level and depression in patients attending a university hospital dental clinic in Turkey.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the relationship between dental anxiety, general anxiety and depression levels in patients attending a university hospital dental clinic in Turkey.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  250 first visit patients seeking dental treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) were used to assess the dental anxiety, general anxiety and depression level in these patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean MDAS, BAI, and BDI scores were 10.5, 9.4, and 10.7, respectively. The prevalence of dental anxiety was found to be 20.8% (52/250) at the cut-off point > or = 15 and 6.8% (17/250) at the cut-off point > or = 19 according to MDAS score evaluation. MDAS and BAI scores were significantly higher in women (p < 0.001 and p < 0.01, respectively). BDI and BAI scores were significantly higher in MDAS cut-off point of 15 (p < 0.05 and p < 0.001, respectively). When the cut-off point was taken as 19, age and BAI scores were significantly higher in MDAS > or = 19 (p < 0.05, p < 0.001 and p = 0.477, respectively) but there was no association with BDI. There was significant correlation between MDAS scores and age, BDI and BAI mean scores (r = - 0.166, p < 0.01; r = 0.148, p < 0.05; r = 0.273, p < 0.01 respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Dental anxiety was positively correlated with patients' general anxiety level and was higher in women and at younger age.
authors.affiliation: Dumlupinar University, Department of Dentistry, 43270 Kutahya, Turkiye. gurelp@gmail.com
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pekkan
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kilicoglu
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hatipoglu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D016854:Dental Anxiety / Q000523:psychology*; D003796:Dental Service, Hospital; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010555:Personality Inventory; D012737:Sex Factors; D014421:Turkey; D055815:Young Adult