Analysis of the pulse wave rhythm in patients of dental phobia

• Published in: Japanese Journal of Psychosomatic Dentistry Vol. 4; no. 1; pp. 33 - 40
• Main Authors: Tojo, Hideaki, Kanamori, Kimio, Tanaka, Nelida, Amamiya, Hiroshi, Amamiya, Jun, Ozeki, Hidekuni, Ushiyama, Takashi, Ishii, Yasuhiko, Narita, Yoshihiro, Uchida, Yasunobu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Japanese Society of Psychosomatic Dentistry 1989
• Subjects: dental phobia; oscillation; power spectrum
• ISSN: 0913-6681; 2186-4128
• DOI: 10.11268/jjpsd1986.4.33

Hozumi examined quantitatively the relationship between emotional anxiety and the pulse-wave baseline oscillation in both neurotic patients and normals and concluded that the baseline oscillation component of the pulse-wave might be an index of anxiety. We thus studied patients with dental phobia by referring to his concept.The results are reported with some considerations in this article. Subjects: 12 patients with dental phobia (Therapy completed in 10) 10 normal subjects Method: Autopower spectrum of the subjects'fingertip pulse-wave was used to obtain the ratio of the baseline oscillation component to the pulsation component.Statistical comparisons were performed by using percentages of the baseline oscillation component. Results: 1.The baseline oscillation component of the dental phobia patients taken at the beginning of therapy tended to be larger than that of the control group. (t=1.901, df=22, p<0.1) 2.The baseline oscillation component of the experimental group was significantly larger at the beginning than at the end of therapy. (t=3.086df=9, p<0.02) 3.The baseline oscillation component of the experimental group at the end of therapy showed no difference compared to that of the control group. (t=1.229, df=20, n.s.) The above-mentioned results were further confirmed by simultaneously measured SPR, results of the DAS as well as the subjective reports of the subjects. Therefore the basic oscillation component of the pulse-wave does increase and decrease depending on the degree of fear, suggesting the possibility of being an index of emotional anxiety.