Abstract
Chronic idiopathic facial pain is the diagnosis given to a group of orofacial pain of psychogenic origin which includes atypical facial pain, facial-arthromyalgia, atypical odontalgia and oral dysaesthesia. Despite various biochemical findings, the condition remains poorly understood, but we have begun to understand the nature of these patients. This review discusses the possible aetiology of the disease through various biochemical and clinical findings. The contribution of behavioural and psychological factors to the clinical course of the disease are described. The type of adverse life events that predispose people to the disease and their potency are briefly mentioned. The current diagnostic approach for the disease is also mentioned. Treatment includes antidepressant medication, physiotherapy, bite-guards and analgesics. The problems encountered in the long-term management and outcome studies of these patients include drop-outs, non-compliance and denial.
Highlights
Recent studies have increased our understanding on the Patients with emotional problems may present with the fol- biochemical basis of the disease
Chronic idiopathic facial pain is the diagnosis given to a group of orofacial pain of psychogenic origin which includes
Aetiology the condition remains poorly understood, but we have begun to understand the nature of these patients
Summary
Recent studies have increased our understanding on the Patients with emotional problems may present with the fol- biochemical basis of the disease. Facial pain offers a challenge to the present day clinician discovered that there is increased levels of Leukotriene B4 in terms of diagnosis and choice of treatment It has been of and IS-METE in saline aspirates of painful temporointerest to many medical and dental specialities including oral mandibular joint [14]. Treatment has suggested that future research should address the questions as to who should treat the patients, with what and for how long [3] Depression is another factor associated with chronic idiopathic facial pain. Recent researches have clarified that daily life hassles can cause physical illness which includes chronic facial pain [17]. Patients with a psychiatric problem termed as post traumatic stress disorder have been shown to have increased susceptibility for chronic facial pain[20]. A study carried out on a group of 34 chronic idiopathic facial pain patients showed that 15% of these patients have post traumatic stress disorders [20]
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