Temporomandibular Disorder Pain and Somatic Symptoms in Migraine Patients: Idioms of Psychological Distress and Impact on Quality of Life.

BACKGROUND

Studies on painful temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) and somatic symptoms in Southeast Asian migraine patients are lacking.

OBJECTIVES

This study investigated the prevalence of TMD pain and somatic symptoms in migraine patients, examining their relationships with pain characteristics, psychological distress, and quality of life (QOL). Additionally, it identified factors associated with moderate-to-severe distress, low QOL, and poor general health.

METHODS

Participants were recruited from a neurology clinic, where migraines were diagnosed based on the ICHD-3 criteria. A trained interviewer administered a questionnaire comprising sociodemographics, migraine-specific information, the DC/TMD TMD pain screener (TPS), Graded Chronic Pain Scale (GCPS), Patient Health Questionnaires (PHQ-15/PHQ-4), and WHOQOL-BREF. Data were analysed employing Chi-square/Mann-Whitney U tests, Spearman's correlation, and logistic regression analysis (α = 0.05).

RESULTS

Among the 106 participants (mean age 45.3 years [SD = 14.0]), 31.1% experienced TMD pain, while 37.7% exhibited medium-to-high somatic symptoms. Individuals with comorbid migraine-TMD pain had a higher somatic symptom burden, distress, and poorer psychological/environmental QOL. Those with medium-to-high somatic symptoms reported more frequent migraines, greater pain intensity/disability, higher TMD pain propensity, elevated distress, and worse QOL in all domains. Somatic symptoms, but not TMD pain, were negatively and moderately correlated with general health, physical, and psychological QOL (rs = -0.41 to -0.53). Somatic symptoms (OR 1.34) and poor general health (OR 3.06) increased the odds of moderate-to-severe distress and low overall QOL, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

To effectively manage migraine patients, screening for TMDs and addressing somatic symptoms and general health are essential for reducing psychological distress and enhancing overall QOL.