Shamanic Healing for Women With Temporomandibular Joint Disorders (TMDs)

Temporomandibular Disorders Clinical Trial

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Completed

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT00071474
• Other study ID #: R21AT000951-01A2
• Status: Completed
• Phase: Phase 1
• First received: October 23, 2003
• Last updated: January 22, 2007
• Start date: August 2003
• Est. completion date: May 2005

Study information

• Verified date: January 2007
• Source: National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH)
• Contact: n/a
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Health authority: United States: Federal Government
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial Summary

This is a Phase I study to examine the feasibility and safety of shamanic (spiritual) healing for treating temporomandibular joint disorders (TMDs).

Description:

Traditional systems of healing, such as shamanism, do not readily lend themselves to conventional research methods, yet studying their effectiveness is especially germane in the case of chronic conditions that involve an emotional component and that elude allopathic treatment regimens. Temporomandibular joint disorders (TMDs), which affect up to 10% of the adult population, are a prime example of such conditions. Traditional treatment outcomes for TMD pain are often unsatisfactory. Moreover, in women age 25-55 (the age-sex group most affected), TMD is often found in association with depression, anxiety, sleep disturbances, gastrointestinal symptoms, frequent infection,and fibromyalgia. Because these multiple and complex symptoms suggest a loss of spirit or life energy, they may be particularly susceptible to treatment by shamanic (spiritual) healing, which aims to bring disturbed physical, mental, and emotional systems into balance. This phase I study will develop methods to evaluate shamanic healing as an intervention for TMD and will evaluate the feasibility of conducting randomized clinical trials of shamanic healing.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Completed
• Enrollment: 25
• Est. completion date: May 2005
• Accepts healthy volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers
• Gender: Female
• Age group: 25 Years to 55 Years

Eligibility

Inclusion criteria:

• Females Age 25-55

• TMD Research Diagnosis Criteria (RDC) clinical diagnosis of myofacial pain with or without disc displacement, arthralgia, arthritis, or arthosis

• Three or more significant systemic conditions, e.g. depression, fibromyalgia, GI or reproductive disturbances, upper respiratory problems, etc. in the preceding 2 years.

Exclusion criteria:

• Diagnosed organic or medication induced major mental illness (e.g., schizophrenia, bipolar)

• Other neurological diagnoses (epilepsy, Parkinsons)

• Pregnancy

Study Design

Allocation: Non-Randomized, Endpoint Classification: Safety Study, Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment, Masking: Open Label, Primary Purpose: Treatment

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Temporomandibular Disorders
• Temporomandibular Joint Disorders
• Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction Syndrome

Intervention

Procedure:
• shamanic healing

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
United States	Center for Health Research, Northwest	Portland	Oregon

Sponsors (1)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH)

Country where clinical trial is conducted

United States,