Coping profile differences in the biopsychosocial functioning of patients with temporomandibular disorder

The objective of this study was to evaluate whether biopsychosocial functioning differences exist between samples of patients with temporomandibular disorder (TMD) who differ in coping profiles as assessed by the Multidimensional Pain Inventory.

A total of 322 patients who presented with TMD were administered a comprehensive biopsychosocial assessment battery, and the acute or chronic status of their disorder was determined. A follow-up evaluation was conducted 6 months later to determine the status of their pain.

TMD patients with dysfunctional and interpersonally distressed coping profiles demonstrated more acute and chronic psychosocial difficulties than patients with adaptive coper profiles. The data also suggest that having a dysfunctional/distressed coping profile on the Multidimensional Pain Inventory has some predictive value in determining the likelihood of developing chronicity in the absence of treatment.

The presence of a dysfunctional/distressed coping profile in patients with TMD is likely to provide clinicians with important information about the biopsychosocial functioning of those patients, which, in turn, will help to determine the most effective treatment modalities to use with TMD patients.