More than fear? Brain activation patterns of dental phobic patients before and after an exposure-based treatment.

ABSTRACT: Hyperactivation of brain networks conferring defensive mobilization is assumed to underlie inappropriate defensive-preparation in patients with Specific Phobia. However, studies targeting Dental Phobia (DP) yielded quite heterogeneous results and research concerning the effects of exposure treatments on phobic brain activation so far is missing. This functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) study aimed to investigate activation patterns in DP patients during exposure to phobia-related stimuli and the effects of an exposure-based fear treatment on phobia-related activation. Seventeen patients with DP and seventeen non-phobic, healthy controls participated in this fMRI experiment presenting dental-related and neutral auditory and visual stimuli. After completing a short exposure-based CB

SUBMITTER: Wannemueller A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11016127 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature