Electroconvulsive therapy for burning mouth syndrome

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Electroconvulsive therapy for burning mouth syndrome
S. Suda 1 , S. Takagai 1 , K. Inoshima-Takahashi 1 , G. Sugihara 2 , N. Mori 1 , N. Takei 2,3
1 Department of Psychiatry and Neurology , 2 Osaka Hamamatsu Joint Center for Child Development, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Shizuoka, Japan and 3 Division of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, London, UK
Correspondence to Dr Nori Takei, Osaka Hamamatsu Joint Center for Child Development, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, 1-20-1 Handayama, Higashiku, Hamamatsu, Shizuoka 431 3192, Japan.
E-mail: ntakei@hama-med.ac.jp
Copyright Journal compilation © 2008 Blackwell Munksgaard

KEYWORDS
burning mouth syndrome • electroconvulsive therapy • chronic pain • orofacial pain
Suda S, Takagai S, Inoshima-Takahashi K, Sugihara G, Mori N, Takei N. Electroconvulsive therapy for burning mouth syndrome.
ABSTRACT

Objective: Burning mouth syndrome (BMS) is an orofacial pain disorder characterized by a chronic, idiopathic burning sensation of the oral mucosa that mostly affects middle-aged women. Although both psychological and neuropathological factors have been postulated to underlie BMS, the pathogenic mechanism of the condition remains controversial, as do the treatment strategies.

Method: A single case was reported.

Results: Ms A, a 66-year-old woman with BMS type 1, which is characterized by daily burning pain associated with circadian variation, underwent electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). After the completion of 12 ECTs, the pain markedly diminished and the pronounced ECT effect persisted over the subsequent 24-week period of observation.

Conclusion: To our knowledge, this is the first clinical report on the efficacy of ECT for treating pain associated with BMS. ECT can be considered to be an option for treating individuals with enduring and intractable intraoral burning pain.

Accepted for publication July 17, 2008
DIGITAL OBJECT IDENTIFIER (DOI)
10.1111/j.1600-0447.2008.01261.x About DOI