Pain, Central Sensitization and Psychoemotional State in Patients With Chronic Masticatory Muscle Pain

Assessment of the Relationship Between Pain, Central Sensitization and Psychoemotional State in Patients With Chronic Masticatory Muscle Pain

The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship of psychological aspects, selected blood parameters, pain, central sensitization, and muscle electromyography activity in patients with chronic masticatory muscle pain.

Study Overview

• Status: Not yet recruiting
• Conditions: TMD
• Intervention / Treatment: Diagnostic test: Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders Clinical Examination; Diagnostic test: Blood test

Detailed Description

In this prospective cohort study, the study group will consist of 51 people with masticatory muscle pain lasting longer than 3 months, while the control group will involve 51 people without such disorder.

Muscle type of temporomandibular disorders will be diagnosed on the basis of validated and standardized DC/TMD protocol.

Additionally potential headaches will be assessed according to the ICHD-3, since coexistence of chronic masticatory muscle pain and headache is often observed.

Psychological aspects will be analyzed using validated questionnaires regarding depression (PHQ-9), anxiety (GAD-7), perceived stress (PSS-10), satisfaction with life (SWLS), type D personality (DS-14) and coping with stress (Mini-COPE). Central Sensitization will be assessed using the Central Sensitization Index and determination of following blood substances: serotonin, dopamine, acetylcholine, adrenaline, noradrenaline, cortisol, parathyroid hormone, CRP, fibrinogen, interleukin 1B, interleukin 6 and interleukin 8. Additionally the level of electrolytes in the blood (Mg, Ca, Na, K) and level of phosphate will be measured.

Pain assessment will be done using a validated and standardized questionnaire regarding chronic pain (GCPS) and an algometer and will include the measurement of pressure pain threshold in masseter and temporal muscles. In addition, potential autonomic disorders will be assessed using Autonomic Symptoms Questionnaire proposed by Low. Electromyographic muscle activity will be assessed by tetany test. The results of the study will allow for deeper understanding of the complex nature of orofacial pain of muscle origin and its connection with the mechanism of central sensitization, headache and muscle electromyographic activity. Measurement of blood parameters will provide more accurate information on the pathophysiology of these disorders and the use of validated questionnaires will provide valuable information about the mental state of patients.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Anticipated): 102

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Piotr Seweryn, Master; Phone Number: 717840291; Email: piotr.krzysztof.seweryn@gmail.com
• Study Contact Backup: Name: Mieszko Więckiewicz, Professor; Phone Number: 717840291; Email: m.wieckiewicz@onet.pl

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 80 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

• Sampling Method: Probability Sample

Study Population

Study population will consist of 51 patients with masticatory muscle pain for at least 3 months, diagnosed on basis of DC/TMD protocol

Description

Inclusion Criteria for study group:

• Masticatory muscle pain for at least 3 months, based on DC/TMD, at least 18 y.o

Exclusion Criteria:

• severe neurological or psychiatric diseases, use of drugs that may affect the neuromuscular system, alcohol or drug addiction, cancer or pregnancy, previous head surgery

Inclusion criteria for control group:

• no pain in masticatory muscles, age of at least 18 y.o Exclusion criteria the same as for study group

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Observational Models: Cohort
• Time Perspectives: Prospective

Number of groups / cohorts

2

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort	Intervention / Treatment
Study group; Participants with masticatory muscle pain lasting for over 3 months.	Diagnostic test: Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders Clinical Examination; Clinical examination made by experienced dentists (minimum 5 years of practice) and trained and calibrated in accordance with the protocol available on the DC/TMD.; Diagnostic test: Blood test; Blood samples will be tested to investigate two polymorphisms of genes encoding proteins for serotonin receptors HTR2A - rs4941573 in intron 3 and dopamine DRD3 - rs6280 (Ser9Gly) and levels of serotonin, dopamine, C-reactive protein, cortisol, sodium, potassium, and calcium.
Control group; Participants without masticatory muscle pain in last 6 months.	Diagnostic test: Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders Clinical Examination; Clinical examination made by experienced dentists (minimum 5 years of practice) and trained and calibrated in accordance with the protocol available on the DC/TMD.; Diagnostic test: Blood test; Blood samples will be tested to investigate two polymorphisms of genes encoding proteins for serotonin receptors HTR2A - rs4941573 in intron 3 and dopamine DRD3 - rs6280 (Ser9Gly) and levels of serotonin, dopamine, C-reactive protein, cortisol, sodium, potassium, and calcium.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Relationship between masticatory muscle pain and polimorphism of serotonin receptor gene HTR2A - rs4941573 and dopamine receptor gene DRD3 - rs6280	Each participant will undergo genetical blood test.	January 3, 2023 - January 3, 2024
Relationship between masticatory muscle pain and serotonin and dopamine levels.	Each participant will undergo blood test.	January 3, 2023 - January 3, 2024
Relationship between masticatory muscle pain and magnesium, sodium, potasium and calcium levels.	Each participant will undergo blood test.	January 3, 2023 - January 3, 2024
Relationship between masticatory muscle pain and cortisol level.	Each participant will undergo blood test.	January 3, 2023 - January 3, 2024
Relationship between masticatory muscle pain and CRP level.	Each participant will undergo blood test.	January 3, 2023 - January 3, 2024

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Relationship between masticatory muscle pain and depression assessed by Patient Health Questionnaire.	Each participant will fill in Patient Health Questionnaire - 9. PHQ-9 total score for the nine items ranges from 0 to 27.Scores of 5, 10, 15, and 20 represent cutpoints for mild, moderate, moderately severe and severe depression, respectively.	January 3, 2023 - January 3, 2024
Relationship between masticatory muscle pain and PPTs.	Participants from study group will be tested using algometer to determine pressure pain threshold in masseter muscle and temporal muscle.	January 3, 2023 - January 3, 2024
Relationship between masticatory muscle pain and anxiety assessed by Generalized Anxiety Disorder -7.	Each participant will fill in Generalized Anxiety Disorder -7 that consists of 7 items. Total score ranges 0-21 points. Scores of 5, 10, and 15 are taken as the cut-off points for mild, moderate and severe anxiety, respectively.	January 3, 2023 - January 3, 2024
Relationship between masticatory muscle pain and perceived stress assessed by Perceived Stress Scale.	Each participant will fill in Perceived Stress Scale -10. Scores are obtained by reversing the scores on the four positive items, e.g., 0=4, 1=3, 2=2, etc. and then summing across all 10 items. Items 4,5, 7, and 8 are the positively stated items. It can range from 0 to 40. Scores ranging from 0-13 would be considered low stress,14-26 would be considered moderate stress, 27-40 would be considered high perceived stress.	January 3, 2023 - January 3, 2024
Relationship between masticatory muscle pain and satisfaction with life assessed by Satisfaction With Life Scale.	Each participant will fill in Satisfaction With Life Scale which consist of five questions with 5 possible answers. Total score range is 35. Higher score represents higher life satisfaction. Score ranging from 5-9 as considered as extremly dissatisfied with life, 10-14 dissatisfied, 15-19 slightly dissatisfied, 20-24 slightly satisfied, 25-29 satisfied, 30-35 extremely satisfied.	January 3, 2023 - January 3, 2024
Relationship between masticatory muscle pain and Type D personality assessed by DS-14 quesstionaire.	Each participant will fill DS-14 questionnaire which contains 14 Likert-style questions. Each questions has a score range of 0-4. This questionnaire consist of two subscales: negative affectivity and Social Inibition. A cut-off of 10 on both scales is used to classify subject as type-D personality. Maximum score in both scales is 28.	January 3, 2023 - January 3, 2024
Relationship between masticatory muscle pain and coping with stress assessed by mini COPE.	Each participant will fill in mini COPE. Questionnaire consists of 28 statements that make up 14 stress coping strategies.Some testing strategies were divided into four categories and corresponding strategies (inventory scales): active coping (including: active coping, planning, positive reevaluation), helplessness (including: taking psychoactive substances, cessation of actions, blaming self), seeking support (including: seeking emotional support, seeking instrumental support), avoidance behaviors (including dealing with something else, denying, discharging). three strategies create independent factors (turning to religion, acceptance, sense of humor). The range of results for each statement ranges from 0 to 3 points. The calculation of the results consists in adding to each other points for the answers regarding two theorems that make up the given scale, and then dividing by 2.	January 3, 2023 - January 3, 2024
Relationship between masticatory muscle pain and central sensitization assessed by Central Sensitization Inventory.	Each participant will fill in Central Sensitizatin Inventory. This questionnaire consist of two parts. First part includes 25 questions regarding common central sensitivity symptoms. It allows to categorize participant into one of five categories: subclinical (0-29), mild (30-39), moderate (40-49), severe (50-59), and extreme (60-100) Second part is not scored, but it determines if the participant has been diagnosed with certain CSS disorders or related disorders.	January 3, 2023 - January 3, 2024

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Wroclaw Medical University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Anticipated): September 4, 2023
• Primary Completion (Anticipated): January 4, 2024
• Study Completion (Anticipated): January 4, 2025

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: December 22, 2022
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 22, 2022
• First Posted (Actual): January 9, 2023

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): May 16, 2023
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 15, 2023
• Last Verified: May 1, 2023

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: TMD, masticatory muscle pain, central sensitization
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Nervous System Diseases; Pain; Neurologic Manifestations; Musculoskeletal Diseases; Muscular Diseases; Neuromuscular Diseases; Musculoskeletal Pain; Myalgia
• Other Study ID Numbers: WMU1/2022

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No