Catastrophising, pain self-efficacy and acceptance in patients with Burning Mouth Syndrome

Pavneet Chana; Jared G Smith; Aalia Karamat; Anna Simpson; Tara Renton

doi:10.1111/joor.13136

Catastrophising, pain self-efficacy and acceptance in patients with Burning Mouth Syndrome

J Oral Rehabil. 2021 Apr;48(4):458-468. doi: 10.1111/joor.13136. Epub 2021 Jan 5.

Authors

Pavneet Chana¹, Jared G Smith^{1

2}, Aalia Karamat³, Anna Simpson⁴, Tara Renton¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Oral Surgery, King's College London, Dental Hospital, King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
² Population Health Research Institute, St George's, University of London, London, UK.
³ Community Oral Health Unit, Glasgow Dental School, College of Medicine, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK.
⁴ Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.

PMID: 33368621
DOI: 10.1111/joor.13136

Abstract

Background: Little is known about pain catastrophising, pain self-efficacy and chronic pain acceptance in burning mouth syndrome (BMS) and their effect on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and symptoms of anxiety and depressive disorders.

Objectives: To describe pain catastrophising, pain self-efficacy and pain acceptance in BMS patients and explore associations with affective function and HRQoL.

Methods: A cross-sectional study of 36 BMS patients (31 female) referred to an Orofacial Pain Clinic completed the Pain Catastrophizing Scale, the Pain Self-Efficacy Questionnaire and the Chronic Pain Acceptance Questionnaire-8 in addition to standardised self-reported questionnaires measuring mood and oral and generic HRQoL.

Results: Pain catastrophising levels were markedly higher than (non-clinical) population norms, with 32.0% of patients reporting clinically relevant levels. Pain self-efficacy and chronic pain acceptance varied widely; 24.0% evidenced low confidence to cope with pain, and 53.8% reported low activity engagement and/or low pain willingness. Catastrophising showed moderate-to-strong associations with measures of anxiety (r = 0.63), depression (r = 0.80), and oral (r = 0.61) and generic HRQoL (rho=-0.84). Self-efficacy and acceptance were also closely related to levels of depression (r/rho=-0.83 to -0.73) and generic HRQoL (r/rho = 0.74 to 0.75). These associations were stronger than those between pain severity and affective function/HRQoL and persisted after controlling for pain severity.

Conclusions: A substantial proportion of BMS patients evidence maladaptive beliefs about personal effectiveness in managing pain, which is closely related to affective disorders and impaired HRQoL. As such, treatment approaches targeting catastrophising, pain self-efficacy and acceptance may prove beneficial in improving mood and quality of life in BMS patients.

Keywords: Burning Mouth Syndrome; orofacial pain; pain acceptance; pain catastrophising; pain self-efficacy; psychological function; quality of life.

MeSH terms

Burning Mouth Syndrome*
Cross-Sectional Studies
Depression
Female
Humans
Quality of Life
Self Efficacy*

Abstract

MeSH terms

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