Psychological factors and responses to artificial interferences in subjects with and without a history of temporomandibular disorders

Abstract

Objective: It has often been suggested that psychological factors play a role in temporomandibular disorders (TMD). However, reports on psychological factors in TMD patients and controls have been equivocal. In a previous double-blind randomized controlled study, subjects with a TMD history showed more clinical signs and subjective symptoms and adapted less well to the artificial interferences than subjects without an earlier TMD history. In the present study, we analyzed the associations of psychological factors with symptom responses and adaptation to interferences.

Material and methods: Before the intervention, the subjects filled in questionnaires dealing with personality traits, level of psychological and somatic stress symptoms, coping strategies, and health beliefs. Every day during the 2-week follow-up period, the subjects rated the intensity of their symptoms on 9 modified visual analog scales (VAS).

Results: Health hardiness, positive socialization history and inhibition of aggression were associated with weaker symptom responses and better adaptation to true artificial interferences. Some personality characteristics in subjects with an earlier TMD history tended to associate with higher symptom reporting despite the type of intervention.

Conclusions: Psychological factors appeared significant for the symptom responses to artificial interferences, and they seem to play a different role in responses in subjects with an earlier TMD history compared to those without.