Psychological aspects of dental students in the course of clinical prosthetics

Abstract

Cornell Medical Index (CMI), Manifest Anxiety Scale (MAS) and Yatabe-Guilford Character test (Y-G test) were carried out on 165 dental students in the course of clinical prosthetics to understand the psychological changes after study in this course. According to the Y-G profile patterns, in male students, the ratio of A, B, C, D, E and F types were 12.6, 6.7, 14.8, 63.0, 2.2 and 0.007%, and in female students, 6.9, 34.5, 17.2, 34.5 and 6.9% respectively. From the results of CMI, most of the students were stable after study in this course. Psychosomatic profile patterns of CMI before study were similar to those after in both sexes. All items of CMI were decreased in males, but some items were not decreased in females. Anxiety measured by MAS was decreased in many students but was increased in some students after study in this course. These results indicate that it is necessary to be concerned with the mental as well as physical well-being in unstable students.