Predicting chronicity in acute temporomandibular joint disorders using the research diagnostic criteria

The authors describe a prospective study designed to examine the clinical utility of the Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders, or RDC/TMD, in evaluating physical and psychological differences between patients with acute TMD that does not become chronic and patients with chronic TMD. A total of 153 patients with acute TMD participated in the study; the researchers deemed the condition of 87 of these patients to be chronic after a six-month follow-up period, and that of 66 patients to be nonchronic. Using a multiple logistic regression model, the authors found that a number of physical and psychological variables differed significantly between the two groups. These results highlight the importance of the physical-psychosocial interface that affects the development of chronic TMD.