[Psychosocial factors in patients with temporomandibular pain].

The significance of psychosocial factors (pain concepts, psychological distress eg. depression and anxiety, disability) in patients with temporomandibular pain is increasingly noticed. The major diagnostic domains as well as the appropriate diagnostic procedures are described. Management should be based on a model elaborated in cooperation with patients, as to the formation and maintenance of the pain condition. It should be individualized as much as possible. For the majority of patients, symptomatic treatment in combination with clear behavioral directions is sufficient. However, some studies show that improvement is more stable and faster in patients with combined treatment conditions (e.g.occlusal appliance, stress management, relaxation training) than in patients receiving only singular treatment.