THE EFFECTS OF MEDITATION BASED COPING SKILLS TRAINING IN THE TREATMENT OF DENTAL PHOBIA UNDER EXPOSURE AND NON-EXPOSURE CONDITIONS

This study was designed to investigate the effects of meditation based coping skills training in the treatment of dental phobia among school aged children. In addition to examining the relative effectiveness of various treatment modalities, exposure based treatment approaches were compared to non-exposure based treatment approaches. Subjects were blocked on age, sex, race, and socioeconomic status and randomly assigned to one of six treatment groups: multicomponent coping skills group which incorporated in-vivo meditation training which focused upon the production of diaphragmatic breathing, in addition to self statement modification, and filmed modeling; modeling only group; exposure based in-vivo coping skills group; non-exposure based, classroom trained coping skills group; information only group; and a waiting list control group. Anxiety within the dental context was assessed via the state scale of the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children, behavioral ratings of children within the dental situation, and pulse rate. Analysis of the data revealed significant treatment effects as measured on the STAIC. Post-hoc analyses found multi-component treatment to be significantly more effective in reducing anxiety than a waiting list control group, and significantly more effective than modeling alone. Exposure based coping skills training was significantly more effective in reducing anxiety within the dental situation than was similar non-exposure based treatment. No significant treatment effects were in evidence for the information only group.