Psychiatric disorders associated with atypical facial pain

Atypical facial pain (AFP) patients classically present with a chronic discomfort that is neither anatomic nor dermatomal in distribution. Neuropsychiatric assessment of 68 patients with AFP indicated that 46 (68%) had a specific psychiatric disorder by DSM-III criteria. A wide spectrum of psychiatric disorders was present. The authors emphasize that psychiatric assessment of patients with AFP should be an integral part in early assessments of this disorder, rather than relying on psychiatric opinions after extensive dental and other invasive procedures have been tried in vain and often to the detriment of the patient. Comments on the excellent prognosis in treating the psychiatric syndromes associated with AFP are made.