The Prevalence of Bruxism and Associated Factors Among Patients with Schizophrenia in Istanbul, Türkiye: A Cross-Sectional Study

Schizophrenia is a severe and chronic neuropsychiatric disorder that involves profound impairment of psychopathology in cognition, emotion, perception, and other aspects of behavior. Factors, such as the nature of the disease, length of hospital stay, duration of illness, and side effects of psychotropic drugs, may contribute to poor oral health and the risk of developing bruxism in patients with schizophrenia. To evaluate the prevalence of bruxism and associated factors in patients with schizophrenia. This cross-sectional study was conducted in a single center with 211 patients with schizophrenia. Study participants were graded according to “probable” bruxism based on positive clinical inspection, with or without a positive self-report. The type of antipsychotic treatment used in participants was evaluated in three categories: typical antipsychotic monotherapy, atypical antipsychotic monotherapy, and a combination of both. Binary logistic regression models were used to evaluate associations between probable bruxism and different factors. The mean age of the study participants was 51.02 ± 9.29 years, and 112 (52.5%) were males. Probable bruxism was identified in 87 (41.2%) of the study participants. Younger age (AOR = 0.88, 95% CI = 0.838–0.928, P < 0.001), higher duration of illness (AOR = 1.50, 95% CI = 1.278–7.545, P < 0.001), and combination antipsychotic therapy (AOR = 3.042, 95% CI = 1.278–7.545, P = 0.015) were significant factors associated with probable bruxism among patients with schizophrenia on treatment. The relatively high prevalence of probable bruxism in patients with schizophrenia and its relation to antipsychotics was observed. There is a need for more research on the causes and treatment of bruxism in schizophrenia.