Temporomandibular disorders: evidence for significant overlap with psychopathology

Data were analyzed for 277 acute and chronic temporomandibular disorder (TMD) patients to determine if there was a relationship between psychological and physical diagnoses. A significant (p < .01) relationship existed among the following: combined past or current mood disorder-personality disorder and muscle disorder; combined current mood, anxiety, or substance use disorder-personality disorder and muscle disorder; and combined current anxiety disorder-personality disorder and muscle disorder. This study further confirmed other research that has found that significant psychopathology exists in TMD. More important, this psychopathology appears to be linked primarily to muscle disorders, as opposed to disc or joint disorders, within the rubric of TMD.