Treatment of Burning Mouth Syndrome J Clin Med Res • page no. to be assigned Table 2. Rating VAS, HMA-A, HAM-D Scores (mean ± SD) During Treat- ment With Amisulpride Scale Baseline Week 2 Week 4 Week 6 Week 8 Week 12 Week 16 Week 20 Week24 VAS 8.35 ± 0.67 7.0 ± 0.56 5.85 ± 0.87 3.35 ± 0.58 1.15 ± 0.93 1.15 ± 0.81 1.15 ± 0.87 1.05 ± 0.88 1.05 ± 0.87 HAM-A 21.10 ± 1.91 15.20 ± 1.36 3.15 ± 1.69 7.90 ± 1.07 4.85 ± 1.18 6.65 ± 0.67 6.45 ± 0.51 6.60 ± 0.75 6.55 ± 0.68 HAM-D 20.80 ± 1.47 14.05 ± 1.93 10.80 ± 2.41 8.60 ± 0.59 6.80 ± 0.76 4.70 ± 1.12 4.70 ± 1.03 4.80 ± 1.19 4.68 ± 0.98 VAS: Visual Analogue Scale; HAM-A: Hamilton Rate Scale for Anxiety; HAM-D: Hamilton Rate Scale for Depression. tistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition) diagnostic criteria for BMS. Depressive symptoms were evaluated according to the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D); anxiety symptoms were evaluated using the Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety (HAM-A); and the clinical efficacy and toler- ability of the treatment were assessed using the Clinical Global Impressions scale (CCG). The rating scales were ad- ministered at baseline and every 2 weeks until week 8 and then every 4 weeks until 24 weeks. Diagnostic assessment was carried out using the Diagnostic Interview Schedule- Revised (DIS-R, a highly structured interview that carefully specifies the questions that the interviewer must ask to make a diagnosis). Patients were excluded if they had a severe ill- ness, were pregnant or lactating, had a history of breast or genitourinary cancer, or had an allergy or intolerance to ami- sulpride. Patients who met the DSM-IV criteria for psychotic disorders or concurrent depression were also excluded from the study. None of the patients had taken any psychoactive drug for at least 4 weeks before the time of admission, and no concomitant psychotropic or psychotherapeutic treatment was permitted for the duration of study. Other oral diseases/ disorders were ruled out prior to inclusion in the study. At the time of recruitment, each patient was treated with 50 mg of amisulpride. The treatment was continued for 6 months at the same dose. Failure to comply with treat- ment (missing more than 2 consecutive doses of the drug) and withdrawal of participant’s consent were the criteria for withdrawal from the study. Clinical assessment The patients were asked to indicate the mean pain intensity during the week preceding the consultation by scoring on a vertical 10-cm visual analogue scale (VAS). Depressive symptoms were evaluated according to the HAM-D scale; anxiety symptoms, using HASM-A; and clin- ical efficacy and tolerability of the treatment, using CGI-EI. The rating scales were administered at baseline and every 2 weeks until week 8 and every 4 weeks until the end of the study (24 weeks) by a trained psychologist. Statistical procedures Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to test for compa- rability of treatment by using continuous variables such as index age, age onset, and baseline scores for the VAS, HAM- D, HAM- A, and CGI-Efficacy Index (EI). Articles © The authors | Journal compilation © J Clin Med Res and Elmer Press™ | www.jocmr.org