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Updated: Jul 18, 2026

Chronic Constriction Injury of the Rat's Infraorbital Nerve (IoN-CCI) to Study Trigeminal Neuropathic Pain
Published on: September 21, 2015
[Cenesthesia as a rare differential diagnosis of persistent idiopathic facial pain]
J Steiner1, B Bogerts, D Hoffmeyer
1Klinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie, Otto-von-Guericke-Universität Magdeburg. johann.steiner@medizin.uni-magdeburg.de
Abstract:
Cenesthesia is portrayed as a rare differential diagnosis to persistent idiopathic facial pain, including the resulting therapy with antipsychotics. In this case report a female patient developed persistent facial pain 2 years after manifestation of a depressive disorder. The symptoms appeared as a bizarre pain phenomenon closely resembling the psychotic phenomenon of cenesthesia (body hallucinations). Treatment with imipramine and doxepin or a combination of venlafaxin, carbamazepine, and tilidine N had not been successful. Based on diagnostic classification of the complaint as cenesthesia in the context of a depressive disorder, add-on therapy of the atypical antipsychotic ziprasidone was administered. This led to clear improvements in mood and pain symptoms after 4 weeks of treatment.
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