Initial Evidence for a Brief Psychological Telehealth Intervention for Patients With Chronic Masticatory Muscle Pain

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are evaluating a brief behavioral telehealth intervention called Physical Self-Regulation (PSR-TH) for adults with chronic masticatory muscle pain disorders (MMPD), conditions causing pain in jaw muscles lasting more than three months. This study aims to assess the feasibility of PSR-TH compared to a control psycho-education intervention, examining how well patients respond and identifying factors that influence treatment effects. Chronic MMPD affects 5-12% of adults and significantly impacts daily life and quality of life, making effective treatments important. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either two 50-minute telehealth sessions of PSR-TH, which include self-monitoring exercises and diaphragmatic breathing practice, or two 50-minute telehealth psycho-education sessions covering nerve function, anatomy, posture, stress, and sleep hygiene. Sessions are scheduled about two weeks apart. Both groups will receive similar attention and follow-up measures to evaluate treatment effects and acceptability. During the study, participants will provide data on pain intensity, pain interference, quality of life, and treatment satisfaction at baseline, after each session, two weeks post-intervention, and at three months. Researchers will monitor recruitment, retention, intervention delivery quality, acceptability, credibility, and burden. The total study duration includes these assessments and follow-ups to understand how PSR-TH works and whom it may help best.

K23- Physical Self Regulation vs Placebo