In a recent 2013 study, a German research team from the Journal of Pain aimed to estimate the relative risk of depressive symptoms and anxiety on TMD pain over five years. Tooth grinding, facial clenching and genetic factors can trigger TMD and bio-behavioral studies suggest an association between TMD pain and depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder. More than 4000 patients were assessed in this study. Medical examinations, oral health assessments, and health-check interviews were completed as well as a psychiatric risk factor questionnaire. They found that depressive symptoms were more strongly related to joint pain than muscle pain, and that anxiety symptoms were linked with muscle pain. They went on to explain that depressive and anxiety symptoms may initiate muscular hyperactivity followed by muscle abnormality and altered muscle mechanics, which can cause inflammation and muscle pain. Dr. Stan Farrell, whose office is located in Scottsdale, Arizona, is a Diplomate with the American Board of Orofacial Pain, making him one of the best choices for your temporomandibular pain treatment. He uses the most effective methods of treatment and works diligently to erase the pain caused by TMD in the lives of his patients. If you or someone you know has depressive symptoms, jaw pain and or muscle pain, contact Dr. Stan Farrell at 480-945-3629 or at www.aztmj.com to schedule a consultation.
American Pain Society (2013, January 16). Study assesses mood disorders with TMJ pain. ScienceDaily.
Abstract:
There is an ongoing debate about the role of psychological disorder symptoms as risk factors for temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain. Previous studies have associated depression and TMJ pain but large scale studies have not been performed. German researchers writing in The Journal of Pain evaluated community subjects and found that those with depression and anxiety had increased risk for temporomandibular pain upon palpation.
Temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) are a subgroup of craniofacial problems and etiology is believed to be multi-faceted. Tooth grinding, facial clenching and genetic factors may initiate TMD and bio-behavioral studies suggest an association between TMD pain and depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder.
In this study, the research team sought to estimate the relative risk of depressive symptoms and anxiety on TMD pain over five years. More than 4,000 subjects participated and underwent medical examinations, oral health assessments, health-check interviews, and completed a psychiatric risk factor questionnaire. TMD pain was assessed from the oral health exams according to guidelines from the Academy of Orofacial Pain.
The investigators found that depressive symptoms were more strongly related to joint pain than muscle pain, and that anxiety symptoms were linked with muscle pain. The authors explained that depressive and anxiety symptoms may initiate muscular hyperactivity followed by muscle abnormality and altered muscle mechanics, which can cause inflammation and muscle pain. They also suggested TMD might be related to abnormal pain stimuli processing caused by imbalances in the neurotransmitters serotonin and catecholamines. So, TMD pain might reflect physical manifestation of anxiety or depression.
In support of previous published research, the authors concluded there is a strong to moderate relationship between symptoms of depression or anxiety and signs of TMD.
