The effect of a brief relaxation treatment for dental anxiety on measures of state and trait anxiety

Abstract

Used a brief deep muscle relaxation procedure to reduce patient (N = 39) anxiety during a dental appointment. State anxiety decreased significantly for a relaxed (treated) group from the waiting room period to the actual contact with the dentist. This reduction in state anxiety was maintained for the duration of the dental visit. There were no changes in trait anxiety. Implications for the reduction of state and trait anxiety in an in vivo situation were discussed.