An Evaluation of Pharmacological Treatment Combined with Stress Inoculation Training in the Management of oral Lichen Planus

The aim of this pilot study was to examine the effects of the inclusion of a cognitive-behavioral intervention to the pharmacological treatment of oral lichen planus (OLP). Using a randomized controlled clinical trial, 16 patients affected by OLP were treated either with a potent corticosteroid in addition with stress inoculation training or with the drug alone. There were significant differences between the groups regarding the severity of the pathology both at the end of the treatment as well as at one-month follow-up. It is concluded that a cognitive-behavioral intervention might be usefully combined with pharmacological treatment for OLP.