The Impact of Expectation for Pain Relief on Orofacial Pain Treatment Outcomes

Abstract

Aims: To examine the effects of expectations for pain relief on the objective and subjective outcome of chronic orofacial pain (OFP) treatment.Materials and Methods: Sixty individuals referred to the Orofacial Pain Clinic at the Hebrew University-Hadassah School of Dental Medicine between 2015 and 2017 with OFP reported their expectation for pain relief upon initial consultation. They were also interviewed by telephone after treatment and asked to recall their expectations, referred to as “recalled expectations” (RE). Correlations between RE and treatment success were calculated from pain diaries, and from subjective pain improvement rates (PIR) reported by the patients.Results: 21 males (35.0%) and 39 females (65%), mean age of 46.90 ± 15.77 years and mean pain duration of 49.07 ± 51.95 months participated in the study. All participants rated their expectations as “10” on a 0 to 10 scale during their first visit. RE did not correlate with diary ratings, (P = 0.773) but inversely correlated (−0.3) with PIR (P = 0.020) treatment outcomes.Conclusions: Expectations for pain relief, reported as 10 on a 0–10 scale during the first appointment, may reflect the patient's desire for complete relief of their pain rather than their expectations. Clinicians should therefore be aware of the need for clear communication and wording when examining for expectations. Inverse correlation between recalled expectations and subjective outcome may be due to the nature of recalled expectations when patients already knew their treatment outcomes, and may be explained by the concept of cognitive dissonance.

Exploring the Effect of Ethnicity on Chronic Orofacial Pain: A Comparative Study of Jewish and Arab Israeli Patients

“…Differences in pain characteristics between majority and minority groups may be attributed to expectations for pain relief [9], social inequality and racial bias. It was suggested that this inequality leads to inadequate medical care and prolonging the sensation of pain [35].…”

“…Pain experience can be influenced by ethnic factors like socioeconomic status, expectations language, spirituality, etc. [6][7][8][9].…”

Unveiling Neurovascular Orofacial Pain: An Underdiagnosed Form of Chronic Orofacial Pain

“…Lifestyle modifications may include avoiding triggers, maintaining regular sleep patterns, and employing stress-reduction techniques such as meditation or yoga. Naturally, success depends on individuals’ expectations and coping strategies [ 11 ]. Medications commonly used to manage migraines can be effective for NVOP.…”

Orofacial Pain, Diagnosis and Treatment

“…I am pleased to introduce this Special Issue on "Orofacial pain, diagnosis and treatment". Pain signals harm and induces behavioral changes, and chronic pain has a considerable emotional component [1]. The definition of pain, according to International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP), is "an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with, or resembling that associated with, actual or potential tissue damage".…”