A novel mobile application to determine mandibular and tongue laterality discrimination in women with chronic temporomandibular disorder

Chronic pain from temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) is caused by a somatosensory disturbance due to sustained activation of central nervous system nociceptive pathways, which can induce changes in neuroplasticity in the thalamus, basal ganglia and limbic system, as well as disturbances in the somatosensory, prefrontal and orbitofrontal cortex and cognitive impairment. The main objective of this study was to determine the discrimination capacity of mandibular and tongue laterality between women with chronic TMDs and asymptomatic women. This descriptive-comparative study examined 2 groups with a total of 30 women. All participants were between the ages of 23 and 66 years and were assigned to the chronic TMD group or the asymptomatic group according to the inclusion criteria. We employed a mobile application developed specifically for this study to measure the accuracy and reaction time (RT) of mandibular and tongue laterality discrimination. The chronic TMD group had a lower success rate in laterality discrimination (mean mandibular accuracy of 40% and mean tongue accuracy of 67%) than the asymptomatic group (mean mandibular accuracy of 61% and mean tongue accuracy of 90%). These results showed statistically significant differences between the groups for mandibular laterality discrimination (d, 1.14; p<0.01) and tongue laterality discrimination (d, 0.79; p=0.03). The asymptomatic group had faster RTs than the chronic TMD group. The data revealed statistically significant differences for the right mandibular RT (d, 0.89; p=0.02) and right tongue RT (d, 0.83; p=0.03). However, there were no significant differences for left mandibular and left tongue RT. We found that the women with chronic TMDs had a lower success rate and slower RTs in the discrimination of mandibular laterality when compared with the asymptomatic women

Validación y fiabilidad de la versión española de la escala autoadministrada de Evaluación de Signos y Síntomas Neuropáticos de Leeds (S-LANSS)

Resumen: Introducción: La escala autoadministrada de Evaluación de Signos y Síntomas Neuropáticos de Leeds (S-LANSS) es un instrumento diseñado para identificar a pacientes con dolor de características neuropáticas. Objetivo: Evaluar la validez y fiabilidad de la versión española del S-LANSS. Métodos: Se incluyó un total de 182 pacientes con dolor crónico para evaluar la validez discriminante y convergente del S-LANSS, incrementándose la muestra hasta 321 pacientes para valorar la validez de constructo y la fiabilidad de la escala. Se utilizó como variable criterio la versión validada al español del ID-Pain. Todos los participantes cumplimentaron el cuestionario ID-Pain, el S-LANSS, y la Escala Numérica del Dolor. La validez discriminante se evaluó mediante el análisis del área bajo la curva de características operativas para el receptor, y la sensibilidad y especificidad. La validez de constructo se evaluó mediante un análisis factorial y mediante el análisis del odds-ratio de cada ítem del S-LANSS respecto a la puntuación total. La validez convergente y la fiabilidad se valoraron con la R de Pearson y el alfa de Cronbach respectivamente. Resultados: El punto de corte óptimo del S-LANSS fue ≥ 12 puntos (área bajo la curva = 0,89; sensibilidad = 88,7; especificidad = 76,6). El S-LANSS presentó un factor y, además, cada ítem contribuyó significativamente a la puntuación total positiva del S-LANSS (p < 0,05). El S-LANSS mostró una relación significativa con el ID-Pain (R = 0,734) y un alfa de Cronbach de 0,71. Conclusión: La versión española del S-LANSS es válida y fiable para identificar pacientes con dolor crónico con características neuropáticas. Abstract: Introduction: The self-administered Leeds Assessment of Neuropathic Symptoms and Signs (S-LANSS) scale is a tool designed to identify patients with pain with neuropathic features. Objective: To assess the validity and reliability of the Spanish-language version of the S-LANSS scale. Methods: Our study included a total of 182 patients with chronic pain to assess the convergent and discriminant validity of the S-LANSS; the sample was increased to 321 patients to evaluate construct validity and reliability. The validated Spanish-language version of the ID-Pain questionnaire was used as the criterion variable. All participants completed the ID-Pain, the S-LANSS, and the Numerical Rating Scale for pain. Discriminant validity was evaluated by analysing sensitivity, specificity, and the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). Construct validity was assessed with factor analysis and by comparing the odds ratio of each S-LANSS item to the total score. Convergent validity and reliability were evaluated with Pearson's r and Cronbach's alpha, respectively. Results: The optimal cut-off point for S-LANSS was ≥ 12 points (AUC = .89; sensitivity = 88.7; specificity = 76.6). Factor analysis yielded one factor; furthermore, all items contributed significantly to the positive total score on the S-LANSS (P < .05). The S-LANSS showed a significant correlation with ID-Pain (r = .734, α = .71). Conclusion: The Spanish-language version of the S-LANSS is valid and reliable for identifying patients with chronic pain with neuropathic features. Palabras clave: Dolor crónico, Dolor neuropático, Evaluación del dolor, Validez, Fiabilidad, Estudio transcultural, Keywords: Chronic pain, Neuropathic pain, Pain assessment, Validity, Reliability, Transcultural stud