Association between craniofacial pain complaints, somatoform symptoms and chronic diseases

This case-control study aimed to investigate associations between craniofacial pain complaints, somatoform symptoms and chronic diseases.

306 subjects were included in this study (174 patients and 132 healthy subjects). The evaluation consisted of demographic data, number of functional and nonfunctional chronic diseases, medications, somatoform symptoms (xerostomia, dry mucosa, numbness, gastrointestinal complaints), and pain complaints with associated characteristics (number of pain areas, sensation of tired face, bruxism, sleep disturbances, masticatory musculoskeletal evaluation). Statistical analysis included descriptive data, tested with chi-square, Fisher's exact, nonparametric Kolmogorov-Smirnoff, Student's t-test, Pearson's coefficient, two-steps cluster classification, multivariate linear and LASSO regressions.

Functional disorders were prevalent in 111 (63.8 %) patients with facial pain. They were taking more medication (p < 0.001) and had more sleep disturbances (p < 0.001), higher xerostomia scores (p < 0.001) and more gastrointestinal complaints (p < 0.001) than controls. There was a positive correlation between the functional score and the number of cranial areas with headache (R² = 0.266, <0.001). The regression models for facial pain (R² = 0.632), craniofacial pain (R² = 0.623) and headache (R² = 0.252) showed significant dependency of functional disorders (p < 0.001).

craniofacial pain was associated with functional diseases and somatoform symptoms. This association needs further investigation to understand the role of those disorders in craniofacial pain, considering that pain complaints are common somatoform and functional symptoms.