Psychological assessment in patients affected by trigeminal neuralgia. A systematic review

The aim of the present study was to conduct a systematic review regarding the presence and type of psychological comorbidities in patients with trigeminal neuralgia and to determine the potential impact of surgical treatments on these conditions. We reviewed the literature following PRISMA guidelines to identify and critically examine relevant studies. The review question was formulated according to the PICO framework as follows: “For patients affected by trigeminal neuralgia (P) undergoing neuropsychological assessments (I) and potentially undergoing reassessment after surgical treatment (C), is there a correlation between psychological issues and trigeminal neuralgia, and does the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia improve psychological well-being (O)?”. The literature search yielded a total of 316 results. After removing duplicates (n = 73), 243 papers were screened. Following title and abstract screening, 222 records were excluded. Ultimately, 11 studies were deemed relevant to the research purpose. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first systematic review highlighting the significant psychological burden of trigeminal neuralgia, including higher risks of sleep, depressive, and anxiety disorders. Surgical treatments effectively alleviate both pain and psychological symptoms, and multidisciplinary approaches combining psychological support and neuro-rehabilitation with medical or surgical care yield better outcomes. Standardizing psychological assessment and treatment methodologies is crucial for optimizing trigeminal neuralgia management. Clinical trial number: Not applicable.