ISSN:
1365-2842
Source:
Blackwell Publishing Journal Backfiles 1879-2005
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
In chronic craniomandibular disorders, a relationship with psychological distress has often been investigated, with contradictory results. Recent studies on chronic pain patients have shown that the level of psychological distress is related to the number of painful body areas. Therefore, the aim of this study was to analyse differences in psychological distress between craniomandibular pain patients with or without cervical spinal pain, taking the number of painful body areas below the cervical spine also into account. Based on an oral history and, independently performed, dynamic/static tests, the presence or absence of a painful CMD or CSD was recognized. To assess the level of psychological distress, the Dutch version of the Symptom Checklist 90 (SCL-90) was used. The number of painful body areas was indicated on the body drawing of the McGill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ-DLV).From the initial 250 participants, 103 persons could unequivocally be classified as having or not having a painful CMD and/or CSD and fully completed both questionnaires. Patients with both craniomandibular and cervical spinal pain showed higher levels of psychological distress than patients with only local craniomandibular pain and persons without pain (ancova and t-tests, P=0·026–0·000). Further, persons with more painful body areas below the cervical spine showed higher SCL-90 scores (ancova and t-tests, P=0·045–0·000). In conclusion, chronic craniomandibular pain patients with a coexistent cervical spinal pain show more psychological distress than patients with only local craniomandibular pain and asymptomatic persons. (Supported by the IOT)
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2842.2002.01026_9.x
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