Initial Evidence for a Brief Psychological Telehealth Intervention for Patients With Chronic Masticatory Muscle Pain
Ian Boggero, PhD
Summary
This study will use a between-person design. Participants will be treatment-seeking patients with chronic masticatory muscle pain. Participants who are eligible for the study and consent to participate will be randomly assigned to receive a brief behavioral intervention for chronic orofacial pain called Physical Self-Regulation or a control intervention. Interventions will be administered via telehealth in both arms. Both interventions will consist of 2 50-minute sessions scheduled approximately two weeks apart. Participants will be contacted two weeks and three months after completing the interventions to provide additional follow-up data. Investigators hypothesize that both PSR-TH and the control intervention will demonstrate strong feasibility (i.e., recruitment of at least 1 participant per week, \>75% retention, \>95% interventionist fidelity, and adequate acceptability, credibility, and burden). Investigators also hypothesize that specific biopsychosocial variables will moderate PSR-TH-related changes in outcomes, and that PSR-TH-related changes in perceived control over pain, self-efficacy, coping, parafunctional habits, and relaxation will mediate treatment effects.
Description
Chronic masticatory muscle pain disorders (MMPD) consist of several conditions (e.g., myofascial pain, local myalgia) characterized by pain in the muscles of the temporomandibular area lasting longer than three months. MMPD affects 5-12% of adults, is the most common cause of chronic non-odontogenic facial pain, and the second most common musculoskeletal pain condition after chronic low back pain. MMPD is associated with pain-related interference with daily activities, diminished quality of life (QoL) and costs of \> $4 billion/year in the US, representing a serious public health issue. Chroni…