Initial Evidence for a Brief Psychological Telehealth Intervention for Patients With Chronic Masticatory Muscle Pain
This study will use a between-person design. Participants will be treatment-seeking patients with chronic masticatory muscle pain. Participants who are eligible for the study and consent to participate will be randomly assigned to receive a brief behavioral intervention for chronic orofacial pain called Physical Self-Regulation or a control intervention. Interventions will be administered via telehealth in both arms. Both interventions will consist of 2 50-minute sessions scheduled approximately two weeks apart. Participants will be contacted two weeks and three months after completing the interventions to provide additional follow-up data. Investigators hypothesize that both PSR-TH and the control intervention will demonstrate strong feasibility (i.e., recruitment of at least 1 participant per week, \>75% retention, \>95% interventionist fidelity, and adequate acceptability, credibility, and burden). Investigators also hypothesize that specific biopsychosocial variables will moderate PSR-TH-related changes in outcomes, and that PSR-TH-related changes in perceived control over pain, self-efficacy, coping, parafunctional habits, and relaxation will mediate treatment effects.
• Have a primary or secondary chronic masticatory muscle pain diagnosis
• Provide signed and dated electronic informed consent form
• Willing to comply with all study procedures
• Male or female, aged 18 or over
• Be able to speak and write in English
• Be seeking treatment at UKOPC
• Have the ability to perform telehealth visits (i.e., internet access, phone, tablet, computer or other device with audio/visual capabilities)