Co-morbid psychiatric disorders in Nigerian patients suffering temporomandibular joint pain and dysfunction

To determine the prevalence of psychiatric morbidity among Nigerian patients with temporomandibular joint pain and dysfunction (facial arthromyalgia). to delineate the specific types of comorbid psychiatric disorders and identify the socio-demographic characteristics of the patients with psychiatric disorders.

A two-stage design was adopted to study the prevalence and types of co-morbid psychiatric disorders of identified 24 patients with temporomandibular joint pain and dysfunction over a period of 5 years.

Pain and Psychiatric clinics of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benini City, Nigeria.

The patients were controlled for age gender, and marital status. The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. 28-item General Health Questionnaires and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scales were used for first stage screening while the second stage interview utilised the Psychiatric Assessment Schedule.

The prevalence of psychiatric morbidity was 37.5% and 12.5% in the study and control groups respectively. Generalised anxiety disorder and dysthmia were the main forms of psychiatric disorders identified. Temporomandibular joint pain and dysfunction patients with co-morbid psychiatric disorders were significantly older (P<0.0001), had the illness for shorter periods before presentation (p<0.001) and were non-professionals.

The findings highlight the need for multi-disciplinary approach to the assessment and management of patients with temporomandibular joint pain and dysfunction.