The purpose of this study was to observe emotional changes in patients given pain stimulation during dental treatment. Galvanic skin reflexes (GSR) were used as the index of emotional change and the duration and frequency of such reflexes was analyzed. The subjects were 20 students of the dental department of our university who understood the project and were willing to cooperate.
The results were as follows:
1) GSR reactions were observed while the patients were resting, when uneasiness was exhibited and at the time of pain stimulation.The reaction was lowest during rest and increased in the order of uneasiness and pain stimulation. The frequency, too, was lowest at rest and also increased in the order of uneasiness and pain stimulation.
2) The duration of GSR reactions was significantly longer during uneasiness than rest, as well as the reactions being more frequent.These results indicate that even before actual pain stimulation the patient begins to feel worried about the pain due to visual stimulation.
3) The duration of the GSR reactions was significantly longer during pain stimulation than in the eeriods of rest and uneasiness, and the frequency was also greatest.
From the above, it can be seen that the method of observing a patient's emotions by means of GSR reactions can be very useful at the time of dental treatment and that evaluations can be made from both the duration and frequency of their appearance.
