title: Predicting treatment completion in a behavioral therapy program for chronic temporomandibular pain.
abstract: The aim of this study was to identify factors useful in predicting whether chronic temporomandibular pain patients would complete a behavioral treatment program. Detailed clinical examination and interviews regarding demographic and social factors were given to 78 patients on week prior to treatment. They also completed a number of personality measures (depression, anxiety, locus of control) at that time and kept a pain diary during the following week to establish baseline levels. Motivation was also assessed. Patients were classified as completing (54%) or failing to complete (46%) the program. Social factors (family and generalized others' attitudes towards the patient's pain) were the only significant predictors of treatment completion. In a multiple regression analysis, these factors accounted for 43% of the variance. These results suggest the usefulness of including social-environmental factors when considering patient compliance. Implications for the conceptualization of social support are discussed.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001676:Biofeedback, Psychology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D010146:Pain / Q000523:psychology; D059408:Pain Management; D010349:Patient Compliance; D012064:Relaxation Therapy; D012931:Social Environment; D013705:Temporomandibular Joint Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*