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Cognitive Correlates of Dental Anxiety

Department of Social Dentistry and Dental Health Education, Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam, Louwesweg 1, 1066 EA Amsterdam, The Netherlands

P. Muris

Department of Experimental Abnormal Psychology, University of Limburg, Maastricht, The Netherlands

G. ter Horst

Department of Social Dentistry and Dental Health Education, Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam, Louwesweg 1, 1066 EA Amsterdam, The Netherlands

F.J. Van Zuuren

Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

C.A. De Wit

Department of Social Dentistry and Dental Health Education, Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam, Louwesweg 1, 1066 EA Amsterdam, The Netherlands

This study examined cognitive correlates of dental anxiety among 24 highly anxious patients and 17 low-anxious patients. In both groups, anxiety expectations, dental trait anxiety, and state anxiety (in the waiting room and in the dental chair) were rated. Negative cognitions and cognitive control were also assessed. It was found that dentally high-anxious patientsclaimed toexperience more negative thoughts than those with low anxiety (p < 0.001). None of the highly anxious patients reported relatively few negative cognitions, and none of the patients in the low-anxiety group reported relatively numerous negative cognitions. While patients from both groups reported that cognitive control declined with the imminence of treatment, highly anxious patients were found to have less control over their negative thoughts (p < 0.001). A series of stepwise regression analyses revealed that both the number of negative cognitions and perceived cognitive control accounted for 75% of the variance in dental trait anxiety. The results of the present study suggest that cognitive activities, such as negative thinking (catastrophizing) and cognitive control, are important moderators of dental anxiety.

Key Words: Anxiety • Behavioral Science • Cognitions • Dental Anxiety • Psychology.

Journal of Dental Research, Vol. 73, No. 2, 561-566 (1994)
DOI: 10.1177/00220345940730021201


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