Relationship between dental anxiety, general anxiety level and depression in patients attending a university hospital dental clinic in Turkey.

摘要

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the relationship between dental anxiety, general anxiety and depression levels in patients attending a university hospital dental clinic in Turkey. BASIC RESEARCH DESIGN: A cross sectional study. PARTICIPANTS: 250 first visit patients seeking dental treatment. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) were used to assess the dental anxiety, general anxiety and depression level in these patients. RESULTS: The mean MDAS, BAI, and BDI scores were 10.5, 9.4, and 10.7, respectively. The prevalence of dental anxiety was found to be 20.8% (52/250) at the cut-off point > or = 15 and 6.8% (17/250) at the cut-off point > or = 19 according to MDAS score evaluation. MDAS and BAI scores were significantly higher in women (p < 0.001 and p < 0.01, respectively). BDI and BAI scores were significantly higher in MDAS cut-off point of 15 (p < 0.05 and p < 0.001, respectively). When the cut-off point was taken as 19, age and BAI scores were significantly higher in MDAS > or = 19 (p < 0.05, p < 0.001 and p = 0.477, respectively) but there was no association with BDI. There was significant correlation between MDAS scores and age, BDI and BAI mean scores (r = - 0.166, p < 0.01; r = 0.148, p < 0.05; r = 0.273, p < 0.01 respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Dental anxiety was positively correlated with patients' general anxiety level and was higher in women and at younger age.