A Comparison of the Effects of Hypnosis and Relaxation Training on Stress Reactions in a Dental Situation

Abstract

Abstract Skin conductance and self-report anxiety of frightened dental patients were measured during a pain tolerance test and an anesthetic injection procedure. On the skin conductance measure, relaxation and hypnosis were more effective than control for highly aroused Ss. There were no differences between treatments for Ss showing low arousal. Pain tolerance scores and self-report anxiety scores also showed no differences. A five month follow-up indicated that hypnosis Ss showed more post-treatment approach behavior to the dental situation than relaxation Ss.