Impact of a Mindfulness-Based Intervention on Pain and Psychological Factors in Women With Chronic Painful Temporomandibular Disorders.
Melissa De Oliveira Melchior, Laís Valencise Magri, Kranya Victoria Díaz-Serrano, Elton Brás Camargo Júnior, Felipe Fregni, Kevin Pacheco-Barrios, Riccardo Lacchini, Christie Ramos Andrade Leite-Panissi, Edilaine Cristina Silva Gherardi-Donato
Journal of oral rehabilitation December 1, 2025 DOI: 10.1111/joor.70028 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 84 |
| Population | Women aged 18-61 years with chronic TMD diagnosed according to the Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (DC/TMD) |
| Intervention | Mindfulness-based intervention |
| Duration | 8-week intervention |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Biopsychosocial model Chronic pain Facial pain Pain experience Pain‐related tmd |
| Key findings | Mindfulness-based intervention improved pain pressure threshold, reduced stress and catastrophic thoughts, and enhanced mindfulness facets compared with no treatment in women with chronic TMD-related pain. |
Abstract
Psychosocial factors influence the perception of TMD signs and symptoms. Regular mindfulness practice supports their management through emotional and cognitive self-regulation, modulating the TMD-related pain experience. To analyse the influence of a mindfulness-based intervention on pain, cognitions, behaviour and emotions reported by women with TMD-related chronic pain. Eighty-four women, aged between 18 and 61 years, with chronic TMD (diagnosed according to the Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders, DC/TMD), were randomised into an intervention group (IG) or a control group (CG). The intervention group underwent an 8-week mindfulness practice programme, consisting of weekly 2-h sessions and one immersion session lasting 4 h. The entire programme consisted of nine meetings. The control group did not receive any intervention during the same period. All participants underwent clinical pain assessments and completed self-administered questionnaires before and after the intervention period. These questionnaires addressed cognitive, behavioural and emotional variables. Evaluators were blinded to the group allocations of the participants. Simple linear regression was used for the main statistical analyses, with significance established at p < 0.05. Fifty-three women completed the study (IG = 30; CG = 23). The intervention had a positive influence on the following variables: number of pain points, pain pressure threshold (PPT), stress, catastrophic thoughts and facets of mindfulness, including 'observe', 'distract', 'non-react' and overall mindfulness levels (all analyses at p < 0.05). This unique trial, in which the mindfulness-based intervention was compared against a control (no treatment), showed that mindfulness can contribute to the sensory, cognitive, behavioural and emotional management of pain-related TMD. The improvement in pain, therefore, was probably influenced by the regulation of psychological aspects related to it.
Comparable studies
Other randomized controlled trials on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alterations in Brain and Immune Function Produced by Mindfulness Meditation Healthy employees in a work environment | 2003 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 41 |
| Prevention of relapse/recurrence in major depression by mindfulness-based cognitive therapy. Recovered recurrently depressed patients | 2000 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 145 |
| Open hearts build lives: Positive emotions, induced through loving-kindness meditation, build consequential personal resources. Working adults | 2008 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 139 |
| Short-term meditation training improves attention and self-regulation Undergraduate Chinese students | 2007 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 40 |
| Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Depression: Replication and Exploration of Differential Relapse Prevention Effects. Recovered recurrently depressed patients | 2004 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 73 |
Citations in the library
Cites 10
- How Does Mindfulness Meditation Work? Proposing Mechanisms of Action From a Conceptual and Neural Perspective Perspectives on Psychological Science October 14, 2011
- Validity evidence of the brazilian version of the five facet mindfulness questionnaire (FFMQ) Psicologia Teoria e Pesquisa September 1, 2014
- The effectiveness of mindfulness-based stress reduction intervention on physical function in individuals with chronic low back pain: Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice November 2022
- The effect of mindfulness on the inflammatory, psychological and biomechanical domains of adult patients with low back pain: A randomized controlled clinical trial. PLoS One 2022
- Contemplative sciences: A future beyond mindfulness. World Journal of Psychiatry April 19, 2021
and 5 more in the library