Mechanical sensitivity and psychological factors in patients with burning mouth syndrome

• Published in: Clinical oral investigations Vol. 23; no. 2; pp. 757 - 762
• Main Authors: Honda, Mika, Iida, Takashi, Kamiyama, Hirona, Masuda, Manabu, Kawara, Misao, Svensson, Peter, Komiyama, Osamu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01.02.2019; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Aged; Burning mouth syndrome; Burning Mouth Syndrome - physiopathology; Burning Mouth Syndrome - psychology; Dentistry; DNA nucleotidylexotransferase; Female; Females; Geriatrics; Humans; Japan; Mechanical properties; Medicin och hälsovetenskap; Medicine; Original Article; Pain; Pain Threshold; Physical Stimulation; Skin; Surveys and Questionnaires; Tongue; Tongue - physiopathology; Japan; Psychological factors; Primary orofacial pain; Tongue; Burning mouth syndrome; Quantitative sensory testing
• ISSN: 1432-6981; 1436-3771; 1436-3771
• DOI: 10.1007/s00784-018-2488-9

Objectives The aim of this study was to compare mechanical sensitivity on the tongue using quantitative sensory testing (QST) and psychological factors using the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) between burning mouth syndrome (BMS) patients and healthy participants. Materials and methods Participants comprised 20 female BMS patients (68.1 ± 7.4 years) and 20 healthy females (65.4 ± 4.6 years). Psychological factors were evaluated with GHQ. Tactile detection thresholds (TDT) and filament-prick pain detection thresholds (FPT) were used to evaluate mechanical sensitivity on the tongue in all participants. TDT and FPT were measured on the tongue within both the painful area and the non-painful area in BMS patients, and on the tongue on both sides in healthy participants. As controls, TDT and FPT were measured with Semmes-Weinstein monofilaments on the skin of the mentum and palm in all participants. Results GHQ scores were significantly higher in BMS patients than in healthy participants ( P  = 0.024). No significant differences in TDT or FPT on the tongue, mentum, or palm were seen between BMS patients and healthy participants ( P  > 0.05). BMS patients showed no significant differences in TDT or FPT between the painful and non-painful areas on the tongue ( P  > 0.05). There were no significant correlations among TDT/FPT and GHQ score in BMS patients ( P  > 0.05). Conclusions These findings could indicate a more important role for psychological factors than mechanical sensitivity in BMS pathophysiology. Clinical relevance Pain on the tongue in elderly female patients with BMS may be more related to psychological factors.