Chronic orofacial pain and psychological distress: a narrative literature review

Abstract

Orofacial pain (OFP) encompasses any type of pain affecting the regions of the face, mouth, and neck. When chronic and persistent, managing this condition poses a challenge for healthcare professionals, particularly due to the associated psychosocial comorbidities. In this context, psychic suffering, evident in many cases of chronic orofacial pain, is frequently discussed in the literature. This study aimed to elucidate the dimension of suffering in research on chronic orofacial pain through a narrative review. The methodology involved a narrative review of the literature, with searches conducted in the PubMed, BVS, Scielo, and PePsic databases, focusing on publications from the past ten years. The main findings reveal that temporomandibular dysfunction (TMD), one of the principal causes of OFP and one of the most frequently mentioned types of OFP in this research, is also of significant importance in healthcare. It represents a crucial area for developing interventions aimed at improving patients' quality of life. The studies underscore the need for multidisciplinary approaches to manage refractory cases of orofacial pain and TMD. It is concluded that further research is needed to explore clinical care alternatives and follow-up strategies for chronic OFP and TMD cases associated with psychic suffering.