Stress as a factor in muscle and temporomandibular joint pain.
Stress-induced muscle hyperactivity has been proposed as a major aetiological factor in the production of pain in the muscles of mastication and the temporomandibular joints. In the present study, a total of fifty-two patients with joint or muscle pain were evaluated for stress with the Derogatis Stress Profile (DSP). The muscle pain group (n = 24) had higher clinician ratings of psychological factors, stress and chronicity. The muscle-pain group also had higher Environmental Stress scores on the DSP, more intense pain, and more activity impairment than the joint-pain group (n = 28). The results of multiple regression analysis suggest an association between pain, depression, and impairment of activity in the muscle-pain group but not in the joint-pain group. The overall results further suggest that muscle pain develops at 'normal' levels of stress.
D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000150:complications; D003863:Depression / Q000150:complications; D004644:Emotions; D005152:Facial Muscles / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005157:Facial Pain / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012044:Regression Analysis; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications*; D013706:Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction Syndrome / Q000209:etiology*