Short-Term Effect of Scalp Acupuncture on Pain, Sleep Disorders, and Quality of Life in Patients with Temporomandibular Disorders: A A Randomized Clinical Trial

Abstract

Background and Objective To evaluate the effects of Chinese scalp acupuncture in patients diagnosed with Temporomandibular Disorders (TMD) on pain, sleep and quality of life (QOL), and compare these results with the results from traditional therapies. Methods Sixty patients diagnosed with TMD using the Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (RDC/TMD) were allocated into four treatment groups: Counselling (C = 15), Occlusal Splint (OS = 15), Scalp acupuncture (SA = 15) and Manual Therapy (MT = 15). Participants were re-evaluated within one month. Three questionnaires were used to access sleep disorders, QOL and pain: The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL-bref) and the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), respectively. The data obtained were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Science program (SPSS 22.0). Results The SA group significantly improved pain (p = 0.015), as well as the OS (p = 0.01) and MT groups (p = 0.014). Only the OS (p = 0.002) and MT (p = 0.029) groups improved sleep. MT group significantly improved QOL in terms of the physical domain of the WHOQOL-bref (p = 0.011) and the OS group in the psychological domain (p = 0.012). Conclusion The scalp acupuncture proved to be another alternative for pain relief in patients with TMD, demonstrating positive results in the short term. However, it was not as effective in improving quality of life and sleep.

Supported self‐management in temporomandibular disorders: A systematic review of behavioural components

“…After screening, 83 articles were rejected as they did not meet the inclusion criteria for several reasons leaving 84 papers whose full text was obtained and read. After examining the full text of these 84 papers, 20 papers (19 original studies and one follow‐up report) were identified as eligible for inclusion in this systematic review: Komiyama et al, 1999 16 ; Wright et al, 2000 17 ; Carlson et al, 2001 3 ; Dworkin et al, 2002 18 ; Michelotti et al, 2004 19 ;Truelove et al, 2006 4 ; Turner et al, 2006 20 ; Mulet et al, 2007 21 ; Turner et al, 2011 22 ; Nie‐mela et al, 2012 23 ; Michelotti et al, 2012 24 ; Craane et al, 2012 25 ; De Vocht et al, 2013 26 ; Conti et al, 2015 27 ; Costa et al, 2015 28 ; Qvintus et al, 2015 29 ; Giro et al, 2016 30 ; Lam et al, 2020 31 ; De Resende et al, 2021 32 ; Peixoto et al, 2021 33 . A list of the 64 papers excluded with reasons for exclusion is available in the Appendix S3.…”

“…Sixteen of the studies used pain intensity as an outcome measure and it was measured using: the visual analogue scale (VAS) in nine studies 3,16,19,23–25,27,32,33 ; the characteristic pain intensity scale (CPI) in three studies 18,20,22 ; a numerical rating scale (NRS) in two studies 21,26 ; the symptom severity index (SSI) in one study 17 ; and the graded chronic pain scale (GCPS) in one study 31 …”

“…After screening, 83 articles were rejected as they did not meet the inclusion criteria for several reasons leaving 84 papers whose full text was obtained and read. After examining the full text of these 84 papers, 20 papers (19 original studies and one follow-up report) were identified as eligible for inclusion in this systematic review: 33 A list of the 64 papers excluded with reasons for exclusion is available in the Appendix S3.…”

“…Sixteen of the studies used pain intensity as an outcome measure and it was measured using: the visual analogue scale (VAS) in nine studies 3,16,19,[23][24][25]27,32,33 ; the characteristic pain intensity scale (CPI) in three studies 18,20,22 ; a numerical rating scale (NRS) in two studies 21,26 ; the symptom severity index (SSI) in one study 17 ; and the graded chronic pain scale (GCPS) in one study. 31 The remaining studies had differing outcome measures including: change in number of painful sites within body 4 ; assessment of anxiety, depression and catastrophizing 28 and change in mandibular movement pattern.…”

The Effect of Individual Nursing on Anxiety and Depression in Patients with Temporomandibular Disorders

“…We required the nursing staff to formulate a scientific and reasonable nursing plan before implementing nursing interventions to have a clear understanding of the nursing content according to the patient's condition, needs, and disease risk assessment [24]. Patients with TMD lack awareness of the disease, and its complications may bring negative emotions such as anxiety and depression [25][26][27]. Psychological counseling for patients showed that individualized nursing could improve patients' anxiety and depression.…”