A comparison of massed and spaced exposure in the treatment of clients presenting with disproportionate dental anxiety

• Main Author: Ning, Lana (Mary Lana), 1954-
• Other Authors: Memorial University of Newfoundland. Dept. of Psychology
• Format: Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: 1990
• Subjects: Dental personnel and patient; Anxiety > Testing; Newfoundland studies; University of Newfoundland
• Online Access: http://collections.mun.ca/cdm/ref/collection/theses2/id/99832

Thesis (M.Sc.)--Memorial University of Newfoundland, 1990. Psychology Bibliography: leaves 46-51. This study examined the differential effects of varying intersession interval in a sample of clients presenting with disproportionate dental anxiety. Twelve volunteer clients, consisting of nine females and three males, were randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups: (a) once weekly sessions for four weeks (spaced); (b) twice weekly sessions for two weeks (massed). The treatment was identical for both groups except for the interval between treatment sessions. The behavioural treatment programme was comprised of imaginal exposure and anxiety management techniques. Outcome was measured by three subjective self-report questionnaires and two behavioural measures. Two hypotheses were tested: (1) that a massed treatment programme would be superior to a spaced programme; (2) that there would be a predictable pattern between response channels occurring between beginning and end of treatment. Results indicated that although all subjects reduced their anxiety enough to attend a dental appointment, there was not sufficient evidence to support the superiority of one programme over the other. In addition, the second hypothesis was only partially confirmed. Significant group differences were found only at the end of the treatment programme but not at follow-up. The massed group demonstrated lower scores in a more concordant manner over all dental situations as compared to those scores obtained by the spaced group.