Impact of reassurance on pain perception in patients with primary burning mouth syndrome.
OBJECTIVE
In spite of extensive research, no effective treatment of primary burning mouth syndrome (BMS) still exists. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of informative intervention/reassurance on pain perception and quality of life in patients with primary BMS.


METHODS
Informative intervention/reassurance was undertaken in 28 patients diagnosed with primary BMS. Patients received information about all aspects of BMS verbally and in an informative leaflet. Numerical scale (0-10), Pain Catastrophizing Scale and Oral Health Impact Profile-14 (OHIP-14) were used to assess pain intensity, pain perception, and quality of life before the intervention and 6 months after. No other treatment was given to the patients.


RESULTS
Significant reduction in symptom intensity, pain catastrophizing along with positive increase in the quality of life compared with baseline, was observed on a follow-up examination 6 months after the informative intervention (P < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
The results of this study confirm that objective informing/reassurance of patients with primary BMS can result in decreased catastrophizing and improvement in the quality of life. By eliminating/changing negative patterns of behavior, a reduction in symptoms comparable with pharmacological treatment can be achieved.
Department of Oral Medicine, School of Dental Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia.
V
V
Brailo
Department of Oral Medicine, School of Dental Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia.
M
M
Firić
Department of Oral Medicine, School of Dental Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia.
V
V
Vučićević Boras
Department of Oral Medicine, School of Dental Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia.
A
A
Andabak Rogulj
Department of Oral Medicine, School of Dental Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia.
I
I
Krstevski
Department of Oral Medicine, School of Dental Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia.
I
I
Alajbeg
D000368:Aged; D002054:Burning Mouth Syndrome / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D058748:Pain Perception; D011788:Quality of Life
burning mouth syndrome; impact; pain perception; reassurance