Association Between Clinical Signs of Temporomandibular Disorders and Psychological Distress Among an Adult Finnish Population.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the association between signs of temporomandibular disorders (TMD) and psychological distress in a general population-based sample of Finnish adults.


METHODS
The Health 2000 Survey was conducted in 2000-2001 by the National Institute for Health and Welfare in Finland. Of the sample of adults aged 30 or over (n=8,028), 79% participated in a clinical oral health examination, which included examination of TMD signs. The participants (n=6,155) also completed questionnaires, including the 12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12), which measured psychological distress. Associations between TMD signs and psychological distress measured by the GHQ-12 were examined in both genders. Statistical measures included chi-square tests, t tests, and logistic regression analyses.


RESULTS
The prevalence of the TMD signs (limited opening, clicking, crepitation, temporomandibular joint [TMJ] palpation pain, and muscle palpation pain) was 11.2%, 17.6%, 10.5%, 5.1%, and 18.9% in women, and 6.1%, 12.9%, 5.3%, 2.4%, and 7.2% in men, respectively. High GHQ-12 scores, measured as continuous variables and in quartiles by distress level, were significantly associated with masticatory muscle pain on palpation in both genders (P<.05) and with TMJ pain on palpation in women (P<.05). Additionally, high GHQ-12 scores as continuous were associated with TMJ crepitation in men (P<.05). The logistic regression analyses showed that higher GHQ-12 scores were associated significantly with masticatory muscle pain on palpation both in women (odds ratio [OR]=2.18; 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.6-2.9) and men (OR=2.03; 95% CI=1.3-3.1).


CONCLUSIONS
TMD signs and psychological distress appear to be associated. However, due to the limitations of the study, the findings can be regarded as preliminary.
Lauri
L
Tuuliainen
Kirsi
K
Sipilä
Pirjo
P
Mäki
Mauno
M
Könönen
Anna Liisa
AL
Suominen
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D015986:Confounding Factors, Epidemiologic; D005157:Facial Pain / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008410:Masticatory Muscles / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D063806:Myalgia / Q000453:epidemiology; D010173:Palpation; D011159:Population Surveillance; D015995:Prevalence; D012737:Sex Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013705:Temporomandibular Joint Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*