Psychopathological and Clinical Features in Patients With Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction Syndrome

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the clinical and psychopathological variables among temporomandibular joint dysfunction syndrome (TMDS) subgroups. Metarials and Methods: In this study, we included two hundred individuals, who appealed to outpatient clinic of the Multidisciplinary Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) Diagnosis and Management Unit and were diagnosed with TMDS. The subjects were divided into three subgroups: only myofascial pain group (Group-1), only TMJ disorder group (Group-2) and myofascial pain+TMJ disorder group (Group-3). All patients underwent standard TMJ examination. The patients were evaluated with the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI) and the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS) in terms of psychopathological features. Results: Maximum mouth opening was found significantly lesser in Group-2 than in the other two groups, right and left lateral movements were found significantly lesser in Group-2 than in Group-1. Maximum protrusion was found significantly lesser in Group-3 than in Group-1. In Group-2, teeth clenching/grinding and the effect of stress were significantly less. In comparison with Group-2, BSI somatization scores in Group-1 patients, depression, anxiety and symptoms total index scores in Group-3 patients were found to be significantly higher. No difference was found for the level of alexithymia between the groups. Conclusion: The patients with myofascial pain alone or myofascial pain and intercurrent TMJ disorder were found more likely to have a greater psychopathological risk. Clinicians should take into consideration the psychopathologies in these patients. Turk J Phys Med Rehab 2072;58:9-75.