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Purpose

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn whether a 2-week gratitude journaling activity is feasible and acceptable for individuals with Temporomandibular Disorder (TMD) and chronic overlapping pain. The study will also look at whether this activity is helpful in reducing pain and how much it interferes with daily life. The primary aims of this study are to: - Assess whether individuals with TMD and chronic overlapping pain are able to complete the 2-week gratitude journaling activity as planned (feasibility). - Evaluate how acceptable participants find the gratitude journaling activity (acceptability). The secondary aim of this study is to: • Explore whether the gratitude journaling activity reduces pain and its impact on daily life, compared to a general wellness journaling activity. Participants will: - Attend two in-person visits to complete questionnaires and take part in tests that measure how sensitive they are to pressure and heat. - Complete a 2-week journaling activity at home, writing in their journal on three days of their choice per week.

Condition

Eligibility

Eligible Ages
Between 18 Years and 80 Years
Eligible Sex
All
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
No

Inclusion Criteria

  • participants between the ages of 18 and 80 - pain in the temporomandibular (TMD) region (jaw and/or temple area) - duration of pain is at least 3 months - average pain score ≥4 on a 0-10 numerical rating scale over the past week - have at least one additional chronic overlapping pain condition (COPC) including fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome, migraine-type headache, tension-type headache, low back pain, interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome or chronic prostatitis, myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome, vulvodynia, and painful endometriosis. - able to read, understand, and write in English.

Exclusion Criteria

  • history of TMD surgery - neoplasm or injury/trauma to the TMD area - cancer-related pain - scheduled for any surgeries during the study time-frame - current participation in another clinical trial or psychological treatment for any pain-related condition that would interfere with study outcomes - pregnant or lactating - severe motor impairments (e.g., muscular dystrophy) - severe psychiatric conditions (e.g., uncontrolled mood disorders) - severe neurological or cognitive impairments (e.g., uncontrolled Parkinson's disease) - any other conditions that in the opinion of study investigators could make participation in the study unsafe - use of opioids within 48 hours prior to laboratory visit

Study Design

Phase
N/A
Study Type
Interventional
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention Model
Parallel Assignment
Primary Purpose
Treatment
Masking
None (Open Label)

Arm Groups

ArmDescriptionAssigned Intervention
Experimental
Gratitude Intervention
  • Behavioral: Gratitude
    Participants in this group will receive a gratitude journal where they will be asked to write down three things they are grateful for each day and reflect why they are grateful for these things. Journaling will take place from the comfort of their home on three days of their choice per week, for a total duration of two weeks.
Active Comparator
General Wellness
  • Other: General Wellness
    Participants in this group will receive a general wellness journal where they will be asked to reflect on three things that happened, or they did during the day (daily activities). Journaling will take place from the comfort of their home on three days of their choice per week, for a total duration of two weeks.

Recruiting Locations

University of Florida
Gainesville 4156404, Florida 4155751 32610
Contact:
Melissa Makhoul, Phd, MSN, RN
352-246-3153
melissamakhoul@ufl.edu

More Details

Status
Recruiting
Sponsor
University of Florida

Study Contact

Melissa Makhoul, PhD, MSN, RN
352-246-3153
melissamakhoul@ufl.edu

Notice

Study information shown on this site is derived from ClinicalTrials.gov (a public registry operated by the National Institutes of Health). The listing of studies provided is not certain to be all studies for which you might be eligible. Furthermore, study eligibility requirements can be difficult to understand and may change over time, so it is wise to speak with your medical care provider and individual research study teams when making decisions related to participation.