Psychiatric disorders and symptoms in children and adolescents with sleep bruxism

This study examines state-trait anxiety, anxiety sensitivity (AS), depressive symptom levels, and psychiatric disorders in children and adolescents with sleep bruxism (SB). Thirty-five patients (aged 8-17 years) with a diagnosis of SB and 35 healthy controls were included in the study. All participants were evaluated for psychiatric disorders using a structured clinical interview and completed self-report questionnaires. At least one psychiatric disorder was present in 42.9 % of the patient group and 17.1 % of the control group (p < 0.05). Trait and state anxiety, anxiety sensitivity, and the severity of depression symptoms were also higher in the SB group (p < 0.05). After the multivariate analysis, the associations between state and trait anxiety, depression, and SB became statistically insignificant, while the association with anxiety sensitivity persisted. This study suggests that SB is related to AS, regardless of the severity of anxiety or depressive symptoms.