Psychogenic facial pain: presentation and treatment

Abstract

An account is given of a two-centre controlled clinical trial to assess the efficacy of dothiepin (Prothiaden) against placebo and a soft bite-guard in the treatment of psychogenic facial pain. The results confirm the superiority of the dothiepin to placebo in achieving pain relief, but show no benefit from the use of mechanical treatment. Short-term relapse of pain which occurred in the follow-up period was not associated with recurrence of psychiatric symptoms but appeared to be directly related to withdrawal of dothiepin.