University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
The goal of this clinical trial is to compare two treatments for dental phobia in children and adolescents: One-Session Treatment for Dental Phobia (OSTD) and psychoeducation plus relaxation training (RELAX). The main questions this study aims to answer are: * Is one intervention more effective in reducing the severity of dental phobia 6 months after treatment? * Are improvements in dental fear and anxiety maintained 12 months after treatment? * How do changes in fear-related learning and beliefs contribute to treatment outcomes? * How acceptable and practical are these treatments for youth, their parents, and the professionals delivering the treatments? Researchers will enroll approximately 160 youth with dental phobia and randomly assign them to one of two treatment groups. Participants will receive either OSTD or RELAX. Participants will: * Complete an initial assessment of their dental fear and anxiety. * Participate in their assigned treatment. * Complete assessments 1 week, 6 months, and 12 months after treatment to evaluate changes in dental fear, anxiety, and related beliefs and behaviors. Researchers will compare the two groups to determine which treatment is more effective in reducing dental phobia, whether improvements last over time, and how changes in fear-related learning may contribute to treatment outcomes.
The study will examine inhibitory learning as a potential mechanism underlying improvements in dental phobia following One-Session Treatment for Dental Phobia (OSTD) compared with psychoeducation and relaxation training (RELAX). Inhibitory learning involves developing new associations that reduce the influence of previously learned fear responses. The study will investigate whether changes in implicit associations with dental-related stimuli and beliefs about potential harm help explain treatment-related improvements in dental phobia. Exploratory analyses will examine potential predictors and…
Inclusion Criteria: To be eligible to participate in this study, an individual must meet all the following criteria: * Subject and one parent/LAR must be willing and able to give informed assent/consent for participation in the study. * Subject and one parent/LAR must be willing and able to comply with all study procedures for the duration of the study, including randomization to treatment condition and interventionist. * Subject must be between 7 and 16 years of age. * Subject must meet DSM 5 criteria for a specific phobia, blood- injection -injury type with dental stimuli as the focus of t…
OSTD is a single-session behavioral intervention designed to reduce dental phobia in children and adolescents. The intervention uses individualized, graduated exposure to feared dental situations and procedures. Exposure activities are guided by a participant-specific fear hierarchy and cognitive-behavioral assessment developed before treatment. During the treatment session, participants engage in exposure exercises intended to help them confront feared dental situations and develop new learning about anticipated negative outcomes.
RELAX is a single-session behavioral comparison intervention consisting of psychoeducation and relaxation training for children and adolescents with dental phobia. The intervention includes information about dental-related fear and anxiety and instruction in relaxation strategies, including progressive muscle relaxation. Participants receive guided relaxation training intended to support the management of anxiety associated with dental situations.