Hypnotizability, absorption and negative cognitions as predictors of dental anxiety: Two pilot studies

American Journal of Clinical Hypnosis,  Jan 2008  by Wickramasekera, Ian II

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DiClementi, J. D., Deffenbaugh, J., Jackson, D. (2007). Hypnotizability, absorption and negative cognitions as predictors of dental anxiety: Two pilot studies. Journal of the American Dental Association, 138(9), 1242-1250. This article presents the results of two pilot studies designed to examine some issues important in dental applications of hypnosis.

However, the two studies also have wider implications for how we understand the role that personality plays in enacting hypnotic phenomena. The two pilot studies were designed to assess the relative strengths of hypnotic ability, absorption (as defined by a participant's ability to maintain a focused attention task), and negative cognitions in predicting dental anxiety (measured with a dental anxiety questionnaire). In the first pilot study, the investigators measured die participants hypnotic ability and dental anxiety. The participants also watched a video presentation of a patient experiencing a dental procedure either under hypnosis or not. The participants in the second study also completed the measures of hypnotic ability and dental anxiety in addition to also watching the video of a dental procedure. The participants in the second study were also given some additional information about the dental procedure they were going to see on the video. The participants were either told that the video would show a routine dental cleaning procedure or a major dental surgical procedure. The authors reported that their evidence demonstrated that hypnotic ability, absorption, and negative cognitions were in fact predictors of dental anxiety. The authors also discussed the clinical relevance of these findings for dental practice including the utility of measuring hypnotic ability to predict dental anxiety as well as to assess for responsiveness to hypnotic treatment for dental anxiety. These pilot studies used some interesting methods to measure absorption which I found stimulating. Their use of a performance related task to measure absorption (rather than a personality-based test) seems especially creative to me given the controversy over context effects in the relationship between hypnotic ability and absorption. Perhaps further work in this area could establish a less context sensitive manner of assessing absorption potential? Address for reprints: Dr. J. D. DiClementi, Department of Psychology, Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne, 2101E. Coliseum, Fort Wayne, IN 46805. Email address: diclemej@ipfw.edu.

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