Abstract
Data sources
Cochrane Oral Health Group's Trials Register, Central, Medline, Embase, PsycINFO.
Study selection
Randomised controlled trials of psychosocial interventions for chronic orofacial pain were included. Psychosocial interventions targeted towards changing thoughts, behaviours and/or feelings that may exacerbate pain symptoms through a vicious cycle were eligible. Primary outcomes were pain intensity/severity, satisfaction with pain relief and quality of life.
Data extraction and synthesis
Two reviewers independently screened studies, extracted data and assessed risk of bias. Dichotomous outcomes, were expressed as risk ratios with 95% confidence intervals, continuous outcomes as mean differences with 95% confidence intervals. Heterogeneity was assessed using the Cochrane test for heterogeneity and the I2 test. Meta-analyses were conducted using the random-effect or the fixed-effect models.
Results
Fifteen of the 17 eligible studies were on temporomandibular disorders (TMDs), two on burning mouth syndrome. Psychosocial interventions improved long-term pain intensity (standardised mean difference (SMD) -0.34, 95% confidence interval (CI) -0.50 to -0.18) and depression (SMD -0.35, 95% CI -0.54 to -0.16). However, the risk of bias in these studies was high.
Conclusions
There is weak evidence to support the use of psychosocial interventions for chronic orofacial pain.
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References
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Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Address for correspondence: Vishal R Aggarwal, Oral Health Unit, National Primary Care Research and Development Centre, School of Dentistry, The University of Manchester, Higher Cambridge Street, Manchester, M15 6FH, UK. E-mail: vishal.r.aggarwal@manchester.ac.uk
Aggarwal VR, Lovell K, Peters S, Javidi H, Joughin A, Goldthorpe J. Psychosocial interventions for the management of chronic orofacial pain. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2011 Nov 9; 11: CD008456
This paper is based on a Cochrane Review published in the Cochrane Library 2011, issue 11 (see www.thecochranelibrary.com for information). Cochrane Reviews are regularly updated as new evidence emerges and in response to feedback, and the Cochrane Library should be consulted for the most recent version of the review.
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Themessl-Huber, M. Weak evidence supports the use of psychosocial interventions for chronic orofacial pain. Evid Based Dent 13, 58 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ebd.6400865
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ebd.6400865
