IADR Abstract Archives
Correlation Between Phobia of Vomiting, Gag-Reflex, and Dental Anxiety
Objectives: When gaging reflex is activated to minor stimulations it can pose a significant obstacle to routine dental care. Excessive gag-reflex is often attributed as a hidden manifestation of dental anxiety. The aim of the present study was to examine the relationship between phobia of vomiting (Emetophobia), excessive gag-reflex during dental treatment and dental anxiety.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using an online questionnaire, which included the Dental Anxiety Scale (DAS), a questionnaire referring to feelings of nausea and fear of vomiting in various situations (SPOVI- Specific Phobia Of Vomiting Inventory) and questionnaires referring to gag-reflex in different situations related to dental treatment (GAS- Gagging Assessment Scale and GPA-R- Gagging Problem Assessment Revised). The questionnaires were distributed via the web to the general population and to members in a specific forum dealing with emetophobia.
Results: 164 subjects completed the questionnaires (19 men, 144 women, and one defining his/her gender as "other"; mean age 34 ±.11). 20% of the respondents (N= 32) suffered from excessive gag-reflex (GAS>9; GPA-R>17) and reported feelings of nausea and a desire to vomit in various experiences related to dental treatment. 39% of the respondents (N=64) reported severe dental anxiety (DAS>13) and 62% (N=102) suffered from emetophobia (SPOVI >9).
SPOVI scores correlated significantly with both DAS and GAS (r=0.287 and 0.51, respectively, p<0.001 each); while GAS and DAS scores correlated with each other (p<0.001; r=0.51) (Pearson correlation coefficients). The odds of a subject with an excessive gag-reflex to be diagnosed with emetophobia increased by 11.5 as compared to an individual with no excessive gagging (Chi square).
Conclusions: An excessive gag-reflex is closely associated with both dental anxiety and emetophobia.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using an online questionnaire, which included the Dental Anxiety Scale (DAS), a questionnaire referring to feelings of nausea and fear of vomiting in various situations (SPOVI- Specific Phobia Of Vomiting Inventory) and questionnaires referring to gag-reflex in different situations related to dental treatment (GAS- Gagging Assessment Scale and GPA-R- Gagging Problem Assessment Revised). The questionnaires were distributed via the web to the general population and to members in a specific forum dealing with emetophobia.
Results: 164 subjects completed the questionnaires (19 men, 144 women, and one defining his/her gender as "other"; mean age 34 ±.11). 20% of the respondents (N= 32) suffered from excessive gag-reflex (GAS>9; GPA-R>17) and reported feelings of nausea and a desire to vomit in various experiences related to dental treatment. 39% of the respondents (N=64) reported severe dental anxiety (DAS>13) and 62% (N=102) suffered from emetophobia (SPOVI >9).
SPOVI scores correlated significantly with both DAS and GAS (r=0.287 and 0.51, respectively, p<0.001 each); while GAS and DAS scores correlated with each other (p<0.001; r=0.51) (Pearson correlation coefficients). The odds of a subject with an excessive gag-reflex to be diagnosed with emetophobia increased by 11.5 as compared to an individual with no excessive gagging (Chi square).
Conclusions: An excessive gag-reflex is closely associated with both dental anxiety and emetophobia.