Acute Effects of Alcohol Use on Chronic Orofacial Pain

Not Applicable

Completed

Brief Summary: Self-medication of pain with alcohol is a common, yet risky, behavior among individuals with chronic orofacial pain. Chronic pain status may affect the degree to which alcohol use relieves pain, but the independent contributions of pain chronification and alcohol-related expectations and conditioning have not been previously studied. This project addresses this gap in knowledge and will inform further research and clinical/translational efforts for reducing risk associated with these behaviors.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria

Positive diagnosis of jaw pain, including temporomandibular joint and muscle disorder (TMD) (jaw pain group only)
Consume at least 1 drink/month over the past 6 months

Exclusion Criteria

History of chronic pain other than jaw pain or TMD
Current use of opioids
Current major depression
History of any psychotic disorder
Undercontrolled hypertension or diabetes
History of neurologic disease
History of serious medical illness
History of drug or alcohol dependence, including nicotine, or a pattern of hazardous alcohol use

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Jaw pain patients	Ethanol	Individuals seeking care for jaw pain, including temporomandibular joint and muscle disorder (TMD).
Healthy controls	Placebo	Healthy social drinkers without jaw pain recruited as a comparison group.
Jaw pain patients	Placebo	Individuals seeking care for jaw pain, including temporomandibular joint and muscle disorder (TMD).
Healthy controls	Ethanol	Healthy social drinkers without jaw pain recruited as a comparison group.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Pressure Pain Intensity	Day 1; Day 2 (Laboratory sessions will be separated by at least 48 hours.)	Pain ratings associated with 4, 5, or 6 pound-feet (lbf) of pressure applied to the insertion of the masseter. VAS (visual analogue scale) pain intensity ratings anchored from 0 ("no pain at all") to 100 ("most intense imaginable") were collected. Higher values represent higher pain intensity.
Pressure Pain Threshold	Day 1; Day 2 (Laboratory sessions will be separated by at least 48 hours.)	Pressure at which stimulation at the masseter insertion becomes painful, in lbf. Positive values represent higher pain thresholds.
Perceived Relief	Day 1; Day 2 (Laboratory sessions will be separated by at least 48 hours.)	Ratings of relief from pain associated with consumption of the study beverage following application of 4, 5, or 6 lbf stimuli. VAS (visual analogue scale) assessing perceived relief anchored from 0 ("No relief at all") to 100 ("Most profound relief imaginable"). Higher values represent greater perceived relief.