Efficacy of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) in Dental Phobia

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The purpose of this study is to find out whether Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is effective in the treatment of patients with dental phobia.

Detailed Description
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Dental phobia represents a clinical condition that affects 5-15% of the community and is characterized by severe anxiety of dental treatment which leads to avoidance of treatment and, as a consequence, severe dental as well as psychosocial problems. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) has been developed for the treatment of patients with post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Its efficacy in PTSD patients has often been demonstrated in randomized controlled trials. Recently it has been demonstrated that dental phobia is often induced by traumatic events during dental treatment and goes along with symptoms of PTSD in numerous patients. A pilot study (de Jongh et al. 2002) gave hints on the efficacy of EMDR in four dental phobia patients with a history of traumatization during dental treatment. This randomized wait-list control study aims to evaluate the efficacy of EMDR in a larger sample of dental phobia patients.

Official Title
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A Randomized Wait-list Control Study of the Efficacy of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) in Patients With Dental Phobia

Conditions
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Dental Phobia

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: dental phobia according to the World Health Organization´s International Classification of Diseases, ICD-10 (F40.2) Exclusion Criteria: schizophrenic disorder severe depression severe dissociative disorder organic brain disease anorexia nervosa (body mass index, BMI < 17) suicidality severe cardio-vascular disease ophthalmic disease pregnancy and lactation psychopharmacological treatment substance abuse

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 75 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Active Comparator: EMDR<br>Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing | Behavioral: Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)<br>* The intervention consists of three 90-minute sessions of individual psychotherapy. Sessions take place weekly according to a treatment manual.<br>|
| No Intervention: WLC<br>Wait-list control group. EMDR treatment takes place after 4 weeks of no treatment which represents the wait-list comparison interval. | |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Dental anxiety | Dental anxiety is assessed by the Dental Anxiety Scale (DAS) and the Dental Fear Survey (DFS). | 4 weeks | 
| Dental anxiety | Dental anxiety is assessed by the Dental Anxiety Scale (DAS) and the Dental Fear Survey (DFS). | 3 months | 
| Dental anxiety | Dental anxiety is assessed by the Dental Anxiety Scale (DAS) and the Dental Fear Survey (DFS). | 12 months | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| General psychopathology | General psychopathology is assessed by the Brief Symptom Scale (BSI). | 4 weeks, 3 months, 12 months | 
| Anxiety and depression | Anxiety and depression are assessed by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). | 4 weeks, 3 months, 12 months | 
| Behavioral test | Dentral anxiety is assessed during a dental visit before and after treatment/wait-list control condition by means of a standardized behavior obeservation and interview. | 4 weeks | 
| Dental treatment | Does the patient tolerate dental treatment within 3 and 12 months after Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)? | 3 months, 12 months | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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dental phobia, psychotherapy, eye movement desensitization and reprocessing - EMDR, efficacy, wait-list control