Ethnic differences in temporomandibular disorders between Jewish and Arab populations in Israel according to RDC/TMD evaluation.
OBJECTIVE
To use the Axis I and Axis II test items of the Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (RDC/TMD) to study the differences in temporomandibular disorders (TMD) between Israeli Arabs and Israeli Jews.


METHODS
Sixty-five Israeli Jews and 50 Israeli Arabs who were referred with a proposed diagnosis of TMD participated in the study.


RESULTS
The overall male:female ratio was 1:7.3 in the Israeli Arab group compared with 1:2.4 in the Israeli Jewish group, with a significant difference in gender between groups (P < .05). A comparison of women only in both groups (44 Israeli Arab women and 46 Israeli Jewish women) revealed no statistically significant differences in Axis I diagnoses, disability days, pain duration, and Characteristic Pain Intensity scores. The Israeli Arab women scored higher in Axis II parameters: Differences between the 2 groups were statistically significant with respect to depression scores (P < .001), anxiety scores (P < .001), somatization scores (pain items excluded) (P < .001), somatization scores (pain items included) (P < .05), average disability scores (P < .01), and chronic pain grade (P < .05).


CONCLUSIONS
The results highlight the social component of the biopsychosocial model in sculpturing chronic pain behavior. Our research suggests the possible need for cross-cultural calibration of the Axis II assessment tools of the RDC/TMD.
Department of Oral Rehabilitation, The Maurice and Gabriela Goldschleger, School of Dental Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel. shosh5@bezeqint.net
Shoshana
S
Reiter
Ilana
I
Eli
Anat
A
Gavish
Ephraim
E
Winocur
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D018912:Arabs; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003863:Depression / Q000208:ethnology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel / Q000208:ethnology; D007585:Jews; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000208:ethnology*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013705:Temporomandibular Joint Disorders / Q000208:ethnology*