Temporomandibular joint disorder poses an intricate etiology. Biomechanical, neuromuscular and psychosocial factors may contribute to the disorder among which psychological and psychosocial disturbances have shown strong direct or indirect contribution to the disease especially when the pain is of muscular origin.
Temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) are defined as the group of musculoskeletal and neuromuscular conditions that involves temporomandibular joint (TMJ), masticatory muscles, and their associated structures (1). Clinically, TMDs are characterized by jaw pain, mandibular movement limitation, joint sounds, and often referred pain in the head, neck, or shoulders region (2). The myofascial pain, a subtype of TMD, is most prevalent condition and it accounts for approximately 50% of all TMD cases in clinical settings (3). Although it's a prevalent condition, but its complex aetiology makes it difficult to diagnose (4).
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
300
case study participants
Bahria University
Karachi, Pakistan
Psychosomatic symptom burden
Psychosomatic symptom burden is defined as the overall severity and frequency of physical symptoms that are influenced or maintained by psychological factors. It will be assessed using a validated self-report questionnaire that captures multiple somatic symptom domains (e.g., pain, gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, and fatigue-related symptoms). Higher scores indicate a greater psychosomatic symptom burden.
Time frame: 2 months
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