Predicting treatment completion in a behavioral therapy program for chronic temporomandibular pain

The aim of this study was to identify factors useful in predicting whether chronic temporomandibular pain patients would complete a behavioral treatment program. Detailed clinical examination and interviews regarding demographic and social factors were given to 78 patients on week prior to treatment. They also completed a number of personality measures (depression, anxiety, locus of control) at that time and kept a pain diary during the following week to establish baseline levels. Motivation was also assessed. Patients were classified as completing (54%) or failing to complete (46%) the program. Social factors (family and generalized others' attitudes towards the patient's pain) were the only significant predictors of treatment completion. In a multiple regression analysis, these factors accounted for 43% of the variance. These results suggest the usefulness of including social-environmental factors when considering patient compliance. Implications for the conceptualization of social support are discussed.