We found a match
Your institution may have rights to this item. Sign in to continue.
- Title
Personality and psychopathology in patients with temporomandibular joint pain-dysfunction syndrome. A controlled investigation.
- Authors
Meldolesi, G.N.; Picardi, A.; Accivile, E.; Toraldo di Francia, R.; Biondi, M.; Meldolesi, G
- Abstract
<bold>Objective: </bold>Our aim was to deepen the understanding of the psychosomatic aspects of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain dysfunction syndrome. Patients affected by this syndrome were compared with both healthy subjects and psychiatric patients, using both self-report and physician-scored psychological measures.<bold>Methods: </bold>Three sex- and age-matched groups were recruited: a TMJ group (n = 32), a healthy group (n = 22) and a psychiatric group (n = 22). The psychiatric group consisted of outpatients diagnosed as having a DSM-IV anxiety or depressive disorder of mild to moderate severity. Psychometric assessment included the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) and the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HARS).<bold>Results: </bold>Psychiatric patients scored higher than both the comparison groups on all but one of the MMPI scales; the majority of the differences were significant or approached significance. TMJ patients scored higher than healthy controls on the Hs (hypochondriasis; p< or =0.01), Hy (hysteria; p< or =0.01) and D (depression; p< or =0.05) scales. Psychiatric patients scored higher than TMJ patients on the HARS psychic anxiety subscale (p< or =0.05), while TMJ patients scored higher than psychiatric patients on the somatic anxiety subscale (p< or = 0.05).<bold>Conclusions: </bold>Certain personality characteristics were associated with TMJ dysfunction. However, further longitudinal studies should be performed to properly assess causal relationships. Despite signs of neuroticism, anxiety and depression, patients with TMJ dysfunction differed from anxious and depressed patients. While the latter displayed a higher level of psychopathology, each group was characterised by a distinct pattern of anxiety symptoms. In addition, a substantial proportion of TMJ patients had little awareness of their inner states and emotions.
- Subjects
PAIN &; psychology; TEMPOROMANDIBULAR disorders; MENTAL illness; MINNESOTA Multiphasic Personality Inventory; MYERS-Briggs Type Indicator; PAIN; PERSONALITY disorders; PSYCHOMETRICS; CASE-control method; ANXIETY disorders; PSYCHOLOGICAL factors; PSYCHOLOGY
- Publication
Psychotherapy & Psychosomatics, 2000, Vol 69, Issue 6, p322
- ISSN
0033-3190
- Publication type
journal article
- DOI
10.1159/000012415