Differences in anxiety, depression, and oral health‐related quality of life among dental anxiety patients with and without reported abuse experience

Abstract

AbstractThis study aimed to explore the differences in anxiety, depression, and oral health‐related quality of life between people with dental anxiety who reported abuse experience (n = 60) and people with dental anxiety who did not report abuse experience (n = 97). Both groups attended a dental service focused on the treatment of dental anxiety intended for people with a history of physiological or psychological trauma, or odontophobia. The participants responded to a questionnaire that included the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Oral Impacts on Daily Performance (OIDP), and the Index of Dental Anxiety and Fear (IDAF‐4C+). The differences between groups were tested for statistical significance using Welch's T‐tests, and linear regression was used to adjust for gender. The participants with reported abuse experience expressed greater psychological symptoms of anxiety and poorer oral health‐related quality of life. The participants with reported abuse experience also expressed a higher fear of losing control, as well as feeling shame and disgust. This study shows that individuals with dental anxiety and a history of abuse may face more complex challenges than those with dental anxiety and no history of abuse.