The impact of COVID-19 pandemic in patients with a diagnosis of Oral Lichen Planus: Pain perception and psychological profile analysis

Objectives To assess the impact of COVID-19 in patients affected by OLP, in terms of level of pain, stress, depression and anxiety and their impact on the clinical manifestation of the disease. Material and methods A longitudinal design was employed. Psychometric evaluations of anxiety, stress, and depression were conducted using the DASS21 scale, while pain levels were measured using the VAS scale. Clinical diagnosis and phenotype evaluation were performed. Results The study included 24 patients with an average age of 62.9 years, with 70.8% presenting erosive OLP. Results revealed a significant worsening of anxiety, stress, and depression scores during the pandemic. Pain level (1.5 ± 1.2 pre-pandemic VS 3.8 ± 1.1 during the pandemic, p < 0.0001) was also negatively affected. Conclusions These findings highlight the potential interplay between psychological stress and oral health conditions, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive understanding of OLP's complex etiology and its response to external stressors. Clinical relevance Multidisciplinary care strategies to address both physical and psychological aspects of OLP patients is recommended following the present findings. Further research is warranted to confirm these observations in larger multicenter studies and to guide tailored guidance approaches for OLP patients during challenging times.