Auricular Acupressure Improves Habit Reversal Treatment for Nail Biting.

OBJECTIVE: Nail biting leads to a variety of health issues. Habit reversal treatment is a major approach to cease nail biting, but is often ineffective since patients continue to suffer from anxiety, a major trigger. This study investigated whether the potential anxiety relief provided by auricular acupressure could improve the efficacy of habit reversal treatment, as evidenced by improved stomatological and other outcomes. METHODS: In a pragmatic, randomized, crossover, pilot clinical trial, 83 nail biters (8-12 years old) received habit reversal treatment in combination with either auricular acupressure intended to reduce anxiety (Method A) or placebo auricular acupressure (Method B). The alternative protocol was employed after a two-month washout period. The primary outcome measured was the 41-item child self-reported version of the Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders, while the secondary outcomes were the nail growth status (NS), which represented the fingernail growth of each finger during habit reversal treatment, simplified plaque index (SPI), and the simplified gingival index (SGI) as measures of oral health. A paired sample t-test was used to assess the differences between Methods A and B, and the differences in the anxiety scores, NS, SGI, and SPI between the baseline and each time point. RESULTS: Forty-one children successfully completed both arms of the treatments and attended all appointments. There were significant differences in the efficacy of habit reversal treatment, the anxiety score, the nail status, and the SGI in favor of Method A (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Auricular acupressure appears to improve the efficacy of habit reversal treatment, likely by reducing anxiety.

Tratamiento de hábitos bucales deformantes con técnica de auriculoterapia / Treatment of oral deforming habits using auriculotherapy

Lo que hoy se conoce como medicina natural y tradicional china, en Asia era conocida como medicina simplemente, sin apellidos. A lo largo de la historia el ser humano ha tratado de librarse del flagelo de la enfermedad, por ello, se usan diferentes terapias que mantienen sus fundamentos. Dentro de estas se encuentra la auriculoterapia.Valuar la auriculoterapia para la eliminación de los hábitos bucales deformantes, factores que provocan anomalías entomaxilofaciales.Se realizó un estudio descriptivo, longitudinal, prospectivo, monocéntrico en 116 pacientes (niños) pertenecientes al área de salud del policlínico universitario Luis Augusto Turcios Lima de Pinar del Río, que acudieron a la consulta de ortodoncia desde el 15 de abril de 2012 al 15 de abril de 2013, y que practicaban uno o más hábitos asociados. Se les aplicó la técnica de auriculoterapia para evaluar la efectividad de este método. Se chequearon por un espacio de 6 meses, para comprobar que eliminaron la práctica de sus hábitos deformantes. Los resultados fueron procesados estadísticamente mediante sistema automatizado statistic y la prueba ji cuadrado, en su aplicación de bondad de ajuste. En todos los casos se prefija un nivel de significación del 0,05.Se logró eliminar los hábitos deformantes con la técnica de auriculoterapia, resultó aplicable en el hábito de succión digital en 96,4 por ciento, le sigue la onicofagia en 95,8 por ciento. Las niñas practicaban más hábitos que los varones y se demostró que la influencia familiar ayuda o dificulta el resultado final del tratamiento.La auriculoterapia resultó una buena terapia para eliminar la mayoría de los hábitos de succión digital y onicofagia(AU)

Known as Chinese natural and traditional medicine in current times, in Asia was simply known as medicine, without last names. Throughout the history, human being has tried to get rid of disease calamity, therefore different therapies preserving their bases are used. Among them auriculotherapy is found.The objetive was to assess the auriculotherapy to eliminate deforming oral habits: factors provoking entomaxillofacial anomalies.A descriptive, longitudinal, prospective and monocentric study was conducted in 116 patients (children) belonging to Luis Augusto Turcios Lima university polyclinic, Pinar del Río. These children attended to the orthodontia office from April 15, 2012 to April 15, 2013 having one or more associated oral deforming habits. Auriculotherapy was applied to assess the effectiveness of this method. They were followed up during 6 months to confirm the elimination of oral deforming habits. Results were statistically processed using the automated system of statistics and chi-square test in its application of goodness of fit. A level of significance 0, 05 was arranged in all cases in advance.Results: oral deforming habits were eliminated using auriculotherapy technique, it was applicable for digital sucking (96,4 per cent) and nail biting (95,8 per cent). Girls practiced these deforming habits more than boys where familial influence helped or made it difficul the final result of the treatment.Auriculotherapy was effective to eliminate the majority of habits related to digital sucking and nail biting.

La sugestión en una etapa del sueño para el tratamiento de hábitos bucales deformantes / The suggestion in a stage of sleep for the treatment of oral deforming habits

En su labor diaria el estomatólogo atiende a los niños con hábitos bucales deformantes y debe tratar sus causas. Por tanto, requiere conocimientos sobre la psicología infantil y de aspectos relacionados con hábitos.Aplicar la sugestión en la fase de sueño con movimientos oculares rápidos como técnica sugestiva por parte de la familia, para controlar estos hábitos bucales deformantes en edades tempranas, teniendo en cuenta la prevalencia de hábitos bucales deformantes en la muestra, su distribución según el sexo y la edad, la relación entre la influencia familiar y la eliminación de hábitos bucales deformantes.Se realizó un estudio longitudinal y prospectivo en la población de 2 a 18 años de los consultorios 15 y 16 del policlínico universitario Luis Augusto Turcios Lima de Pinar del Río, desde septiembre de 2011 a febrero de 2012. El universo estuvo integrado por 33 pacientes, de ellos, se seleccionaron 20 los que practicaban hábitos deformantes. Para el análisis de la información, se aplicó el método estadístico descriptivo y porcentual. El procesamiento de los datos se realizó mediante el sistema estadístico SPSS/PC.El hábito deformante más frecuente fue el empuje lingual. El grupo de edades entre 5-9 años fue el más afectado. Se comprobó un cambio favorable en el estado de salud de los niños al disminuir la práctica de hábitos bucales deformantes.La aplicabilidad de la terapia aplicada fue buena en más de la mitad de la muestra(AU)

The routine of dentistry comprises children assistance with oral deforming habits which causes should be treated. Therefore, knowledge acquisition regarding children psychology and aspects related to these habits are necessary. The objective was to apply suggestion (by the family) during the stage of sleep with Rapid Eye Movement (REM) as a suggestive technique to control deforming habits in early ages, considering the prevalence of deforming oral habits in the sample taken, its distribution according to sex and age, relationship with family influence to make possible the elimination of deforming oral habits. A longitudinal and prospective study was conducted in a population from 2 to 18 years old during September 2011 to February 2012 belonging to Luis Augusto Turcios Polyclinic. The target group was comprised of 33 patients, choosing 20 of them with oral deforming habits. To carry out the analysis of the information, descriptive and percentage statistical methods were applied. The data collected was processed by means of SPSS/PC statistical system.Results: tongue thrustwas the most frequent deforming habits. Ages between 5-9 years old were the most affected, observing a favorable modification in the health status of children when the practice of oral deforming habits diminished. The application of this therapy was good in more than the half of the sample(AU)

A randomized controlled trial of a novel self-help technique for impulse control disorders: a study on nail-biting.

Nail-biting is currently classified as an impulse control disorder not otherwise specified. Although seldom targeted as a primary symptom, nail-biting is often associated with somatic complications and decreased quality of life. The present study assessed the effectiveness of an innovative self-help technique, titled decoupling (DC). DC aims at attenuating pathological nail-biting by performing motor sequences that decouple and rearrange the behavioral elements involved in the habit. A total of 72 participants with excessive nail-biting were recruited via specialized self-help forums and were randomized to either DC or progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) groups after baseline assessment. Four weeks later, participants underwent a similar assessment as before and were asked to rate the effectiveness of the intervention. The primary outcome parameter was the Massachusetts General Hospital Scale (MGH) adapted. Relative to the PMR group, the DC group showed significant progress in withstanding the urge to bite their nails. Furthermore, they appraised the appearance of their nails as considerably less compromised at the end of the treatment relative to participants undergoing PMR. At statistical trend level, the DC group showed a significantly greater decline on the adapted MGH relative to PMR. Despite methodological limitations, the present study asserts that the effectiveness of DC, previously shown for trichotillomania, extends to nail-biting.

Cura sugestiva nocturna y auriculopuntura en el tratamiento de hábitos bucales deformantes

Con la finalidad de ampliar los conocimientos de los ortodoncistas y estomatólogos generales en el tratamiento de hábitos bucales deformantes, se realizó un estudio descriptivo cuyo universo quedó constituido por 45 pacientes de 6 a 7 años de edad,que acudieron a la consulta de ortodoncia de la Clínica Estomatológica de Báguanos en el período comprendido de febrero del 97 a enero del 98 y portadores de los hábitos bucales deformantes de succión digital, onicofagia y empuje lingual. Los mismos fueron tratados con auriculopuntura y sugerencias nocturnas. El sexo más afectado fue el femenino y la edad de 7 años, los hábitos más frecuentes fueron la succión digital y onicofagia y los mejores resultados en el tratamiento se obtuvieron a los 28 días

Digitopuntura y sedación nocturna: una opción en el tratamiento de hábitos deformantes / Pressure acupuncture and night sedation: an alternative for the treatment of harmful habits

Se plantea que en los niños, todos los hábitos perniciosos que tienen un fondo psíquico, responden positivamente al tratamiento de la cura sugestiva nocturna y la digitopuntura como método coadyugante con hábitos constantes y nerviosos, que contribuyen a su sedación; debe cuidarse la edad del paciente en que se realiza esta forma de tratamiento. Se expone el método que debe observarse para su realización pues se han obtenido muy buenos resultados con la combinación de la cura sugestiva nocturna y la digitopuntura con el consiguiente ahorro de materiales(AU)

Ortodoncia e hipnosis: una nueva experiencia / Orthodoncy and hypnosis: a new experience

Se realizó un estudio del tratamiento de los hábitos bucales deformantes mediantes hipnoterapia, en una muestra de 16 pacientes del servicio de ortodoncia de la Clínica Estomatológica Docente de Güines. Se constató la gran ventaja que representa este método por los resultados obtenidos. El 68.7 por ciento de los pacientes tratados erradicó el hábito con 5 sesiones o menos. En el sexo masculino y en las edades de 13 a 17 años resultó más efectivo. No se encontró relación directa entre el nivel de escolaridad y el éxito del tratamiento. Es aplicable a diferentes tipos de hábitos bucales. Los resultados dependen del grado de susceptibilidad hipnótica(AU)

A comparison of relaxation training and competing response training to eliminate hair pulling and nail biting.

A 17-year-old female with a 14-year history of hair pulling and nail biting was treated with relaxation training and competing response training. While introduction of relaxation training produced an initial decline in hair pulling, there was a gradual recovery of the maladaptive behavior to baseline levels. The competing response procedure consisted of clenching fists for 3 min whenever hair pulling or nail biting occurred or were likely to occur. By the use of the competing response hair pulling and nail biting decreased, eventually to zero. Follow-up over a 2-year period revealed that the treatment effects were maintained.

[Treatment of onychophagia]. / Trattamento della onicofagia.

Personal experience in the hypnotic management of nailbiting is presented. Confidence in this type of treatment is rested on the results observed in a set of 32 cases, 28 of which were fully and definitively resolved. An exhaustive account is given of the subject and the method applied. Stress is laid on its technical and therapeutic advantages.