Relationship between sociomedical factors and TMJ-symptoms in Norwegians with myofascial pain-dysfunction syndrome.

The relationship between background characteristics, stress, reported symptoms and clinical findings was studied in a group comprising 333 patients with Myofascial Pain Dysfunction Syndrome (MPD). Three-quarters of this clientele were women, most of them of young or middle age. The stressors most frequently reported were pressed working conditions, anxiety and frustration deriving from disease, and family problems. Of the symptoms, pain was reported by 78 percent of the patients, clicking by 53 percent, limitation of movement by 44 percent and feeling of stiffness and fatigue of masticatory muscles by 41 percent. Significant correlations were found between a number of variables, of which the close relationship between perceived pressors and muscle groups painful to palpation was considered to be a paramount importance. The data were combined into a hypothetic model postulating causal relations. The model was intended for testing and modification in coming studies.