Analysis of psychic imbalance, caused by screening of a video of surgical extraction of a lower third molar in a sample of mental patients as compared to the general population

BACKGROUND: The goal of this study is to validate the psychometric properties of the Hamilton Rating Scales for anxiety and depression. These two scales will be used to analyze anxiety and depression, seven days before, after and seven days after screening of a video showing ex-traction of a lower third molar in four different strata of the sample: mixed disorder, anxiety dis-order, adaptive disorder, and no mental disorder. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A prospective study was performed of 240 Caucasian subjects ages 18-70 in a psychiatry outpatient clinic in Malaga. The study was ap-proved by the Research Ethics Committee of the University of Seville. Following interviews with a psychiatrist and completion of the Hamilton scales, the participants were divided into four levels, with 60 participants per group. The influence of sex and place of residence were analysed. RESULTS: The scales showed good psychometric properties. At the three video screenings, the means were higher for women, persons from rural environments and persons with mixed disorder in the first instance and then anxiety disorder. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with mixed disorder experience a higher level of anxiety and depression than do patients free of mental pathologies. Key words:Anxiety disorder, adaptive disorder, dental anxiety, mixed anxiety-depressive disorder, surgical extraction.