This study examined the nature and extent of psychological differences among diagnostic subgroups of temporomandibular disorder (TMD) patients. Three subgroups were identified and labeled as: (1) primary myalgia, (2) primary temporomandibular joint (TMJ) problems, or (3) combination myalgia and TMJ problems. Patients' (n = 112) levels of pain and distress were measured using a VAS pain scale, the McGill Pain Questionnaire, the Beck Depression Inventory, the State-Trait Anxiety Scale and the MMPI. Patients with primary myalgia had the highest scores on the pain and distress measures while patients in the combination group scored between the myalgia and TMJ problem subgroups. When differences in pain levels were controlled, the differences among groups on measures of anxiety and depression were attenuated while the differences on measures of somatic overconcern remained significant. Discriminant function analysis using psychological variables to predict diagnostic grouping produced correct identification of 74% of the structural patients and 46% of the myalgia patients. Implications for different etiological factors among the 3 groups are discussed.

This study examined the direct and mediated contributions of psychosocial variables to posttreatment physical functioning among 142 patients receiving cardiac rehabilitation. Two models were proposed and tested. In the first model, psychosocial factors were correlated and made to predict baseline and 6-week physical functioning. The results showed that after controlling for age, illness severity, baseline physical functioning, and other psychosocial correlates, optimism and social support still significantly predicted better posttreatment physical functioning. In the second model, we explored both the direct and mediational relationships between psychosocial factors and physical health outcomes. Optimism and social support were found to contribute to health outcomes not only directly but also indirectly through the mediation of less engagement in detrimental coping and lower depressive symptoms, whereas hostility and negative coping only predicted outcomes indirectly through mediators. These findings highlighted the importance of addressing psychosocial issues and their interrelationships in cardiac rehabilitation.

Minnesota Multiphase Personality Inventory (MMPI) scores of 401 low back pain patients were analyzed by a multivariate clustering procedure. Three groups with elevated MMPI profiles and two unelevated groups showed differences in age, employment, marital status, pretreatment pain intensity, and activity limitations. Follow-up comparisons revealed that the elevated subgroups had a poorer response to treatment; however, interesting sex differences were noted.

Studies that used the MMPI to predict the response of chronic low back pain patients to standard medical treatment have not produced definitive results. Patients seen in a university hospital orthopedic back pain clinic were given the MMPI before treatment, and 6 to 12 months later 76 patients completed follow‐up forms that indicated their level of intensity during the previous week and their ratings of the success of treatment in relieving their pain as well as in enabling them to return to normal activities. Predictions of poor response were made in terms of either single MMPI scales or code types. Patients with poor outcome on two of the three criteria (level of pain intensity and ability to return to normal activities) had significantly higher scores on the Hs scale. The predicted high risk code types very accurately identified patients with poor response on the same two criteria; however, the code‐type procedure overpredicted poor response in the good outcome group.