Associations between pain, anxiety and depression and mindfulness in patients with burning mouth syndrome: a cross-sectional study
Jing He, Jun-Jiang Liu, Xin Ye, Ming-Jia Hu, Ning Xiao, Jia Li, Yansong Song, Fanglong Wu, Fan Liu
Journal of Oral and Facial Pain and Headache September 1, 2025 DOI: 10.22514/jofph.2025.053 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational cross-sectional study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 146 |
| Population | Patients diagnosed with burning mouth syndrome (BMS) according to the International Classification of Orofacial Pain, 1st edition, recruited from the Department of Oral Medicine at a stomatology hospital |
| Measures | Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire, visual analog scale, self-report screening tools |
| Topics | Anxiety Depression Meditation |
| Key findings | Among 146 patients with burning mouth syndrome, higher overall mindfulness was associated with lower pain intensity after controlling for confounders (β = −0.268), though associations with anxiety and depression became non-significant. The "describing" facet was linked to reduced pain, while "non-judging" and "non-reactivity" were associated with fewer anxiety symptoms and "acting-with-awareness" with fewer depressive symptoms. |
Abstract
Background: Burning mouth syndrome (BMS) is a chronic pain disorder affecting the oral mucosa, often accompanied by psychological comorbidities. Higher levels of mindfulness have been associated with reduced pain and fewer emotional symptoms in some chronic pain conditions, but its role in BMS remains inadequately explored.
Methods: 146 patients diagnosed with BMS, according to the International Classification of Orofacial Pain, 1st edition, were recruited from the Department of Oral Medicine at a stomatology hospital. Mindfulness, pain intensity and psychological symptoms were assessed using the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire, visual analog scale, and self-report screening tools, respectively. Spearman’s correlation and multiple regression analyses were conducted to evaluate the relationships between mindfulness and levels of pain, anxiety, and depression.
Results: Mindfulness showed significant negative correlations with pain (r = −0.204, p < 0.05), anxiety (r = −0.309, p < 0.01), and depression (r = −0.299, p < 0.01). After controlling for confounding variables, higher overall mindfulness remained significantly associated with lower pain intensity (β = −0.268, p < 0.05), although the associations with anxiety and depression were no longer statistically significant (p > 0.05). Among the mindfulness facets, higher scores on the “describing” facet were associated with reduced pain intensity (β = −0.231, p < 0.05). Additionally, higher scores on the “non-judging” (Odds Ratio (OR) = 0.871, p < 0.05) and “non-reactivity” (OR = 0.869, p < 0.05) facets were associated with fewer anxiety symptoms, while the “acting-with-awareness” facet was significantly associated with fewer depressive symptoms (OR = 0.869, p < 0.05).
Conclusions: The overall mindfulness level and the “describing” facet appear to be associated with pain severity, whereas the “non-judging” and “non-reactivity” facets are related to anxiety symptoms, and the “acting-with-awareness” facet is linked to depressive symptoms, suggesting that mindfulness-based interventions may offer a beneficial approach in the management of BMS.