Is craniofacial pain associated with mental health disorders in adults and older adults in Southern Brazil?

Chronic pain and psychiatric disorders are commonly present in the same person, and the interaction of these conditions can influence the intensity, duration, and frequency of the pain. Thus, this study aimed to examine the association between craniofacial pain and mental health disorders among individuals aged 18 years or older in Southern Brazil, using sex-stratified analyses. This cross-sectional population-based study was carried out in a city in Southern Brazil. Depressive symptoms and perceived stress were assessed by the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 and the Perceived Stress Scale-14. Jaw and temporal pain were self-reported. Crude and adjusted Poisson regression models were used to analyze the associations. In the 820 participants, the prevalence values of jaw and temporal pain, depression, and stress were 17.2%, 18.3%, 29.2%, and 35.8% respectively, all of them higher in females. After adjustments, temporal pain was associated with a higher prevalence of depressive symptoms in the total population (PR = 1.83; 95%CI: 1.43-2.33), males (PR = 2.46; 95%CI: 1.48-4.07), and females (PR = 1.69; 95%CI: 1.29-2.22). Temporal pain was also associated with stress in the total population (PR = 1.29; 95%CI: 1.05-1.60) and in females (PR = 1.46; 95%CI: 1.16-1.84). In conclusion, morning temporal pain was significantly associated with depressive symptoms in the total population and in both men and women, while for perceived stress this association was found only in the total population and in women.