Psychological factors in temporomandibular joint dysfunction pain

Psychological factors are involved in TMJ dysfunction but much previous research has tried to identify single personality factors. Multiple factors, however, are involved. These can be divided into 2 main groups: external social factors and the innate psychiatric state of the patient. The concepts involved and their measurement by life events and illness behaviour questionnaires are discussed. The clinical importance of this to the oral surgeon is emphasised, in relation to the patient who fails to respond to conservative therapy and for whom TMJ surgery is planned. Some of these difficult patients may be less well socially integrated than the majority of TMJ patients.