Mindfulness-based orofacial pain education promotes perceived control and self-management in painful TMD

Background The added value of mindfulness-based strategies for chronic painful temporomandibular disorders (TMD) remains unclear.Objectives To evaluate an 8-week Mindfulness-Based Orofacial Pain Education Program added to conventional care.Methods This mixed-methods quasi-experimental controlled study included 53 adults receiving conventional care plus the program (n = 30) or conventional care alone (n = 23). Outcomes were analyzed using linear mixed-effects models, and focus-group data using reflexive thematic analysis.Results No group-by-time interaction was found for the primary outcome (WHOQOL-BREF psychological domain; β = 0.165; 95% CI, −0.113–0.442; p = .244) or most secondary outcomes. The intervention improved the environmental quality-of-life domain (β = 0.487; p = .002), increased internal pain locus of control (p = .009), and decreased chance (p = .040) and physician locus of control (p = .032). Qualitative findings indicated pain reconceptualization and greater self-management confidence. Conclusions The program did not improve most clinical outcomes but fostered perceived pain control and engagement in self-management beyond symptom reduction.