Maxillofacial surgeons and dentists often deal with the phenomenon of temporomandibular pain-dysfunction syndrome–painful condition of maxillofacial area without clear organic pathology. Psychiatric studies of this disorder are almost lacking. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of psychiatric disorders in patients with temporomandibular pain-dysfunction syndrome and to define the psychiatric diagnosis (ICD-10).

Study sample consists of 57 patients (44 women and 13 men) with temporomandibular pain-dysfunction syndrome aged older than 18 years, who gave inform consent. The study used clinical psychopathological, psychometric (HADS, HDRS, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Hypochondria Whitley Index, Visual Analog Scale for Pain).

Psychiatric disorders were revealed in 48 patients (84.2%) with temporomandibular pain-dysfunction syndrome–39 women and 9 men aged 18-65 years (mean age 39.6 ± 15.4 years). Affective disorders was diagnosed in 56.3%, personality disorders in 20.8%, schizotypal personality disorder in 12.5% and schizophrenia in 10.4%. Among affective pathology mild and moderate depressive episodes prevailed (59.3%). The severity of pain (VAS) in patients with affective disorders was higher than in patients with other psychiatric conditions.

This study shows high prevalence of psychiatric disorders in patients with temporomandibular pain-dysfunction syndrome and proves the feasibility of a psychiatrist participate in the complex treatment of these patients. The use of psychometric method allows to improve the timeliness of the detection of patients who require further clinical psychopathological examination in order to determine the need of pharmacotherapy.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.