[An abbreviated version of RDC/TMD].
BACKGROUND
The aim of this study was to develop a short diagnostic test for pain-related craniomandibular disorders (CMD) based on the Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (RDC/TMD).


METHODS
Participants included 1,177 CMD patients and 896 general population subjects who were examined according to the RDC/TMD. This new diagnostic short test consisted of a combination of the least amount of RDC/TMD items that distinguished between patients and subjects with a sensitivity of > or =70% and a specificity of > or =90%. The diagnostic test items were selected from all available RDC/TMD items using best subset logistic regression.


RESULTS
The question about the presence of facial pain achieved a sensitivity of 96% and a specificity of 95%. The lower limits of the confidence interval for test accuracy measures exceeded the postulated thresholds specified for test development. Assuming a CMD pain prevalence of 10% in the general population this short test resulted in a positive predictive value of 80% and a negative predictive value of >99%.


CONCLUSIONS
A single question about facial pain is a strong predictor for a pain-related CMD disorder and could provide an effective CMD short test.
Poliklinik für Zahnärztliche Prothetik, Zentrum für Zahn-, Mund- und Kieferheilkunde, Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistr. 52, 20246, Hamburg, Deutschland. d.reissmann@uke.de
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Reissmann
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John
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Schierz
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Hirsch
D000328:Adult; D017271:Craniomandibular Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D005156:Facial Neuralgia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013705:Temporomandibular Joint Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology