Influence of psychological symptoms and related disability on central Sensitization Inventory score of individuals with temporomandibular disorders: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND

Patients with temporomandibular disorders (TMD) often present with neck pain, neck disability, and craniofacial disability; however, it has not been established whether these disabilities are associated with the symptoms related to central sensitization (CS).

OBJECTIVE

To describe the prevalence of CS in subjects with TMD and neck disability and to analyze the relationship between symptoms associated with CS with both craniofacial and neck disability.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study that evaluated 130 individuals with painful TMD according to the Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (DC/TMD). The questionnaires used were Central Sensitization Inventory (CSI), the Craniofacial Pain and Disability Inventory (CF-PDI), the Neck Disability Index (NDI), and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. The prevalence ratio of symptoms associated with CS among individuals with TMD in the function of neck disability was determined. The relationships between CF-PDI, NDI, and CSI were verified by multiple linear regression.

RESULTS

Individuals with TMD associated with neck disability presented 2 times more symptoms related to CS than individuals with TMD and without neck disability. Moreover, symptoms of anxiety and depression, as well as craniofacial disability and neck disability, contribute to 66 % of the variation in CSI scores in patients with TMD.

CONCLUSION

Individuals with TMD and neck disability presented more symptoms related to CS than those with TMD and without neck disability. This data showed that the presence of neck disability in individuals with TMD increased the association with symptoms of CS. Symptoms associated with CS are influenced by psychosocial factors, including craniofacial and cervical disability.