Pain and Biopsychosocial Features in Patients With Myogenous Temporomandibular Disorders: A Retrospective Study According to the DC/TMD Axis II.

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to search for a correlation between myogenous TMD diagnosis and Axis II assessment, and to identify the psychosocial predictors of high pain-related disability.

MATERIAL AND

METHODS

In this retrospective study, myogenous TMD patients referring to a University Hospital were included. TMD symptoms were assessed by DC/TMD and validated screening tools for TMD pain. Psychosocial status and pain-related disability were assessed by means of the Patient Health Questionnaire-15 (PHQ-15), Jaw Functional Limitation Scale-20 (JFLS-20), Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), and Graded Chronic Pain Scale Version 2.0 (GCPS).

RESULTS

The final cohort involved 73 TMD patients and 73 controls. The GCPS CPI and JFLS-20 global score were significantly different in TMD patients (all subtypes) compared to controls (all p < 0.001). GCPS CPI was significantly different in local myalgia compared to either myofascial pain or with referral (all p < 0.001). In terms of PHQ-15, no significant differences were reported in local myalgia compared to controls (p = 0.996). GAD-7 did not differ among groups (all p > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Findings from the present study revealed that myofascial pain patients reported significantly higher levels of pain intensity, functional limitations, and physical symptoms, compared to both local myalgia and control patients.