I would like to thank Dr. Stone for his comments, which deal with some very important aspects regarding body-oriented techniques in general, and the relaxation technique applied in our trial in particular.
We agree with Dr. Stone that the thematic structure of brief relaxation therapy as described in our article includes elements of a progressive relaxation hypnotic technique. However, it is important to mention that in the current trial, only elements of functional relaxation (FR) therapy were used.
The technique of FR originally belongs to the psychodynamically based body-oriented psychotherapy methods commonly used in Germany, Austria and Switzerland but not yet widely used in other countries. When applied not only as a brief intervention but in a more complex manner, it takes unconscious psychophysiological experiencing into account.1
Beyond short interventions as used in the present trial, a complete training session in FR furthermore would focus on the discovery of proprioception by exploring the perceived differences of body sensations and the finding of one’s own rhythm, aiming at rebalancing the autonomous nervous system triggered by small movements of the joints.2 In contrast to exercise-based methods such as Jacobsonian progressive muscle relaxation, and in accordance with the theoretical foundation in psychodynamic psychotherapy, the resulting sensations are described either nonverbally in thoughts or explicitly in the form of therapeutic interaction.
As opposed to hypnosis,3 no specific suggestions are made to the patient in FR, and FR does not follow the hypnotic principle of sensory-motor deprivation; in fact, the bodily sensations experienced by the patient during movements are the starting point for the further therapeutic process. Therefore, it would make a difference in FR if the patient were to move like a snake or if the patient moved as if he or she were a snake, with the latter being more a hypnotic intervention.
However, I embrace Dr. Stone’s attentive comments as they show that a complex body-oriented technique such as FR could not easily be minimized to a short intervention without losing some of the theoretical background.4
Nevertheless, our small trial showed that short body-oriented interventions also could be effective in alleviating dental anxiety, and I strongly agree with Dr. Stone that these techniques—including hypnosis—unfortunately still are underused techniques in dental medicine.
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