Treatment of Dental Fear: Systematic Desensitization or Coping?

Abstract
Thirty-two extremely anxious dental patients were given a modified form of systematic desensitization. In order to evaluate the importance of cognitive factors, a procedure of cognitive coping was added to the therapy program for half of the patients. Results show that treatment outcome was significantly better for the group without the addition of coping elements. It is suggested that the adverse effect observed may reflect an interference by the cognitively-oriented therapeutic activities with an otherwise effective therapeutic process.

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