Can sense of coherence be a predictor for treatment outcome in patients with TMD-pain?

• Aims. To investigate whether SOC (sense of coherence) changed after twelve months of treatment of TMD-pain, and if any such change could be correlated with treatment outcome. Another objective was to examine whether SOC was correlated with grade of depression and somatisation. Materials and Methods. 73 patients participated in the double-blind randomized controlled trial. The TMD-treatment was active for at least ten weeks and consisted of either a resilient or a non-occluding control appliance. Patients were diagnosed according to RDC/TMD and completed the SOC-29 at baseline and after twelve months. Treatment outcome was evaluated as a reduction of pain registered as characteristic pain intensity. No difference was found between the resilient appliance and the control appliance in reducing pain at the 12-months follow-up. Therefore the material was pooled together. Results. Of the 73 participating TMD-pain patients, a total of 44 patients filled in the SOC-29 at both baseline and after twelve months, and 42 of them also stated values for depression and somatisation. There was no correlation between high SOC and treatment outcome. No differences were found in the mean value of SOC for patients younger and older than 30 respectively 40 years. Significant correlations were found between mean differences of SOC and grade of depression, and between mean differences of grade of depression and somatisation. Conclusion. Our results showed that SOC was not a predictor for treatment outcome in TMD-pain patients previously treated with an appliance. SOC seems to be correlated to grade of depression.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Odontologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Dentistry (hsv//eng)

Publication and Content Type

vet (subject category)

kon (subject category)