Temporomandibular disorder: efficacy of an oral habit reversal treatment program

J Behav Ther Exp Psychiatry. 1996 Sep;27(3):245-55. doi: 10.1016/s0005-7916(96)00027-4.

Abstract

Little attention has been directed at interventions that directly teach facial pain patients to detect, interrupt, and reverse the maladaptive oral habits and cognitions thought to be associated with muscle hyper-reactivity and pain. The present study tested a seven-session structured-group habit reversal treatment intervention for facial pain patients. Nine facial pain subjects participated in treatment groups and seven qualified subjects who did not participate in treatment served as a comparison group. Pre, post, and follow-up assessments included measures of pain and psychological functioning. Subjects in the treatment group improved on all measures of pain relative to those in the comparison group. These improvements were maintained or augmented at four month follow-up assessments suggesting that habit reversal training, particularly in a group format, may provide a cost-effective intervention for facial pain patients.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Comparative Study
  • Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

  • Adaptation, Psychological
  • Adult
  • Behavior Therapy / methods*
  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / methods
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Facial Pain / psychology
  • Facial Pain / therapy*
  • Female
  • Habits*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Muscle Relaxation
  • Pain Measurement
  • Psychotherapy, Group / methods
  • Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction Syndrome / psychology
  • Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction Syndrome / therapy*
  • Treatment Outcome