Prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder in patients with chronic idiopathic facial pain.

34 patients with chronic idiopathic orofacial pain were assessed by a structured clinical interview for diagnosis of mental disorders according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders (DSM-III-R). Five (15%) had a history of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) which coincided with the pain onset. The majority of these PTSD sufferers also had a personality disorder. The implications of these findings in the diagnosis and management of post-traumatic chronic TMJ pain syndromes is discussed.