Craniomandibular dysfunction: patient characteristics related to treatment outcome

In a previous study it was concluded that only a few changes in symptoms related to craniomandibular dysfunction (CMD) could be attributed to therapy. It was suggested that psychosocial and socio-demographic variables, as well as symptom characteristics, could be responsible for the unconvincing treatment outcome in patients treated with a splint. The present study was performed to investigate whether socio-demographic characteristics, symptom characteristics and various psychosocial variables are associated with treatment outcome in patients with CMD treated with a splint. Treatment outcome was determined by using self-reported follow-up data. Results showed that patients with a negative treatment outcome were older, reported more and more severe symptoms and correlates of CMD, reported fewer stressors and more frequently considered health to be determined by external factors than patients who were treated successfully. The two groups could not be differentiated with regard to anxiety and depression. Results are interpreted with regard to the prediction of treatment outcome.