Treatment of the myofascial pain-dysfunction syndrome: psychological aspects

Myofascial pain-dysfunction syndrome is a stress-related disorder that involves muscle hyperactivity. Psychological treatments should: reduce muscle tension by relaxation procedures, modify the psychological antecedents to the muscle tension, and modify the psychological consequences to the muscle hyperactivity. The scope of the treatment for the myofascial pain-dysfunction syndrome should be commensurate with the scope of the problem. Patients with brief transient pain, usually associated with discrete problems, should have commensurate, brief, limited interventions, such as a relaxation therapy practiced at home via a tape recording. Patients with long-term problems should have commensurate, longer, more extensive interventions that perhaps include modifying the behavior, the antecedents, and the consequences. These issues may be those that predict failure of treatment by the dentist who uses an occlusal therapy as well as the psychologist who uses a relaxation therapy.