Systematic review of pharmacotherapy for atypical facial pain: evaluation of pain reduction, depression, anxiety and quality of life.

ABSTRACT:

Background/purpose

Atypical facial pain (AFP) is a chronic condition characterized by persistent facial pain without clear clinical signs, making diagnosis and treatment difficult. Common pharmacological treatments include antidepressants, anticonvulsants and neuromodulators, but their effectiveness remains uncertain, necessitating a systematic review to guide clinical practice.

Materials and methods

Following PRISMA 2020 guidelines, randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating pharmacological treatments for AFP in adults were included. A comprehensive search of five databases without date restrictions was performed. Data on pain reduction, quality of life, and adverse events were extracted. The Cochrane Risk of Bias (RoB 2.0) tool assessed bias, and evidence quality was e

SUBMITTER: Alshammari AF 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11912238 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature