Abstract

FEMIANO, Felice; GOMBOS, Fernando  and  SCULLY, Crispian. Burning Mouth Syndrome (BMS): Open trial of psychotherapy alone, medication with alpha-lipoic acid (thioctic acid), and combination therapy. Med. oral patol. oral cir. bucal (Ed.impr.) [online]. 2004, vol.9, n.1, pp.08-13. ISSN 1698-4447.

-Objective and study design This open study of 192 otherwise healthy persons with burning mouth syndrome, examined the efficacy on control of symptoms of psychotherapy alone with two hour sessions weekly for two months; alpha lipoic acid (ALA, tioctic acid; Tiobec) 600 mg/day alone for two months; or combination therapy of psychoanalysis and 600mg/day ALA for two months. Controls received placebo alone. -Results Most benefit was obtained with combination therapy. Combination therapy of psychoanalysis and alpha lipoic acid (ALA , tioctic acid; Tiobec. 600mg/day)  for two months gave most benefit and significantly more than psychoanalysis alone  for two 1 hour sessions weekly for two months (p<0.0005), or ALA 600 mg/day alone for two months (p<0.0005) . -Conclusion The present results suggest that alpha lipoic acid may complement psychotherapy and can be an acceptable alternative to psychoactive agents, but trials to compare the two approaches are now warranted.

Keywords : Burning mouth syndrome; alpha lipoic acid; thioctic acid.

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