Stress reactivity, but not stressful life events, is associated with treatment selection and clinical outcomes in masticatory myofascial pain patients. A pilot study.

Authors

José L De-La-Hoz, Ana Bagües, Isabel Martin-Fontelles, José M Cárdenas-Rebollo, Tomás Chivato

Published in

Cranio : the journal of craniomandibular practice. Pages 1-10. Jul 17, 2026. Epub Jul 17, 2026.

Abstract

This study evaluated whether stressful life events (SLE) and stress reactivity (SR) influence treatment selection and outcomes in patients with masticatory myofascial pain (MMFP).
Thirty-five patients with MMFP completed the Social Readjustment Rating Scale and the Stress Reactivity Index-32 (IRE-32). Patients received either conventional treatment (cyclobenzaprine plus physiotherapy; n = 15) or the same treatment plus botulinum toxin (BT) infiltration (n = 20). Pain intensity, pressure pain thresholds, and mandibular range of motion were assessed before and after treatment.  .
SLE scores did not differ between groups and were unrelated to treatment outcomes. Patients receiving conventional treatment showed higher cognitive, emotional, and global SR scores. In this group, greater SR was associated with poorer improvements in pain and mandibular function, whereas no such associations were observed in the BT group.
SR, rather than SLE, may be a clinically relevant predictor of treatment selection and response in patients with masticatory myofascial pain.
Assessing SR may support personalized treatment decisions.

PMID:
42464770
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 17 Jul 2026.

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