Pain and Biopsychosocial Features in Patients With Myogenous Temporomandibular Disorders: A Retrospective Study According to the DC/TMD Axis II

Objectives: This study aimed to search for a correlation between myogenous TMD diagnosis and Axis II assessment, and to identify the psychosocial predictors of high pain-related disability. Material and Methods: In this retrospective study, myogenous TMD patients referring to a University Hospital were included. TMD symptoms were assessed by DC/TMD and validated screening tools for TMD pain. Psychosocial status and pain-related disability were assessed by means of the Patient Health Questionnaire-15 (PHQ-15), Jaw Functional Limitation Scale-20 (JFLS-20), Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), and Graded Chronic Pain Scale Version 2.0 (GCPS). Results: The final cohort involved 73 TMD patients and 73 controls. The GCPS CPI and JFLS-20 global score were significantly different in TMD patients (all subtypes) compared to controls (all p < 0.001). GCPS CPI was significantly different in local myalgia compared to either myofascial pain or with referral (all p < 0.001). In terms of PHQ-15, no significant differences were reported in local myalgia compared to controls (p = 0.996). GAD-7 did not differ among groups (all p > 0.05). Conclusions: Findings from the present study revealed that myofascial pain patients reported significantly higher levels of pain intensity, functional limitations, and physical symptoms, compared to both local myalgia and control patients.