Chronic myofascial pain, disk displacement with reduction and psychosocial factors in Finnish non-patients.

This study aimed to determine chronic groups of myofascial pain and chronic disk displacement with reduction over a 1-year period, and to study the relationship between psychological status and these chronic subgroups of temporomandibular disorders (TMD) in non-patients. A total of 211 subjects (males 47%, mean age 46 years; standard deviation 6) attended examinations in 1999 and 2000 performed according to the Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (RDC/TMD). Chronic myofascial pain was found in 7% and chronic disk displacement with reduction in 11% of subjects; new diagnoses were made in only 4% and 1% of the subjects, respectively. An increase in the level of somatization by 1 step increased the probability of having chronic myofascial pain by over 3 times (P = 0.006). Myofascial pain and disk displacement with reduction seem to be relatively common and fluctuating in nature in non-patients. As somatization associated significantly with myofascial pain, this should be borne in mind in the management of TMD. The results strengthen the rationale of the biopsychosocial orientation in health care.

Temporomandibular joint related painless symptoms, orofacial pain, neck pain, headache, and psychosocial factors among non-patients.

The aims of this study were to assess the prevalence of temporomandibular joint related (TMJ) painless symptoms, orofacial pain, neck pain, and headache in a Finnish working population and to evaluate the association of the symptoms with psychosocial factors. A self-administered postal questionnaire concerning items on demographic background, employment details, perceived general state of health, medication, psychosocial status, and use of health-care services, was mailed to all employees with at least 5 years at their current job. The questionnaire was completed by 1339 subjects (75%). Frequent (often or continual) TMJ-related painless symptoms were found in 10%, orofacial pain in 7%, neck pain in 39%, and headache in 15% of subjects. Females reported all pain symptoms significantly more often than men (P < 0.001). Frequent pain and TMJ-related symptoms were significantly associated with self-reported stress, depression, and somatization (P < 0.001). Perceived poor general state of health (P < 0.001), health care visits (P < 0.001), overload at work (P < 0.001), life satisfaction (P < 0.05), and work satisfaction (P < 0.05) were also significantly associated with pain symptoms, but the work duty was not (P > 0.05). Our findings are in accordance with earlier studies and confirm the strong relationship between neck pain, headache, orofacial pain. TMJ-related painless symptoms, and psychosocial factors. Furthermore, TMJ-related symptoms and painful conditions seem to be more associated with work-related psychosocial factors than with type of work itself.