Relationship between stress levels and treatment in patients with temporomandibular disorders

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: Stress may have an impact on treatment types that patients receive for temporomandibular disorders (TMDs). This study sought to investigate the relationship between the stress index and type of treatments in patients with TMD. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The psychosocial well-being index-short form (PWI-SF) was used to evaluate stress levels in ninety-two patients with TMD. Treatment types were classified into two groups: one group received counseling, physical therapy or medication, while the second group received splint therapy or surgical intervention. RESULTS: The high-risk group (PWI-SF> or =27, the higher the points, the more severe the stress level) was more frequently treated by splint therapy than the low-risk group (PWI-SF<27). Female TMD patients reported higher PWI-SF scores than male TMD patients. CONCLUSION: This study suggests a relationship between stress levels and treatment types for patients with TMD. Thus, the appropriate evaluation and management of stress could be an important factor in treating TMD.